Five takeaways from the Heat’s 114-109 win against the Memphis Grizzlies in its preseason finale on Friday night at FedEx Forum, with Miami now turning its attention to Wednesday’s regular-season opener against visiting Orlando: ▪ Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love – all part of Erik Spoelstra’s expected 9- or 10-man rotation - did not travel to Memphis. Neither did guard Alec Burks, who also has a good chance to be in the rotation. And neither did guard Josh Richardson, who continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery last March.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., who will assuredly be part of the rotation, traveled with the team but did not play. Spoelstra opened with a starting group of Dru Smith, Pelle Larsson, Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith and Thomas Bryant.
Neither Highsmith nor Bryant played in the second half. For stretches of the game, the Heat used a lineup that was often on the floor during the Las Vegas Summer League run that ended with a 120-118 overtime championship game win against Memphis. Many of those Heat Summer Leaguers were on the court during a 17-2 fourth quarter Heat run that helped Miami close preseason at 4-1.
Miami outscored Memphis 29-18 in the fourth. Kel’El Ware (16 points) and Josh Christopher (17 points) were particularly good in that fourth quarter. ▪ This weekend, teams must trim their rosters to no more than 15 players on standard contracts, and no more than three players on two-way co.
