An analysis of Sunday night’s Miami Heat-Washington Wizards

MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s  110-108 loss the Washington Wizards:

– You don’t make statements in games like this.

– Not against an opponent that entered 10-53.

– But you can develop bad habits.

– Like the nine first-half turnovers Sunday.

– Or the 1 of 6 from the line over the two periods.

– And yet another blown double-digit first-half lead.

– Such is the dichotomy of the Heat’s closing schedule.

– With one more left against the Wizards.

– Two more upcoming over this next week against the Pistons.

– And even the remaining game against the Blazers.

– You can lose these.

– Because real challenges, very real challenges await.

– But lose the Heat did.

– And now you have to wonder.

– Let the bad habits seep in and the remaining challenges against the likes of the Nuggets, Cavaliers, Pelicans, Mavericks and Pacers become all the more challenging.

– Sunday was another step back.

– Next up: The visiting Nuggets on Wednesday night.

– When something more – something a lot more – will be required.

– No, not the best of times.

– A team that had been relatively good of late was relatively awful this time around.

– The Heat again opened with Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier.

– That lineup entered 3-3.

– With Kevin Love (heel) and Tyler Herro (foot) again sidelined.

– The Heat also were without Josh Richardson (shoulder), Jamal Cain G League) and Alondes Williams (G League).

–  Cain had a triple-double in the Sioux Falls Skyforce’s G League loss Sunday, with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

– In that loss to the Utah Jazz affiliate, Williams had 25 points and 14 assists.

– Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Caleb Martin again entered together first off the Heat bench.

– With Patty Mills then entering to make his Heat home debut.

– Orlando Robinson and Haywood Highsmith followed.

– Martin’s first block was the 100th of his career.

– The double-double was the 181st of Adebayo’s career.

– The Heat entered off a pair of losses in Dallas and Oklahoma City, having held double-digit leads in each.

– “You have to deal with your reality,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They’re two losses. They’re two games that we felt we put ourselves in a position to get over the top. And we felt they were winnable games against quality opponents. We weren’t able to do it.”

– Spoelstra spoke pregame of difficult rotation decisions.

– “These are the points that I make to the team, is we’re going to need everybody at different times,” Spoelstra said. “And just have to stay ready and be prepared to be productive when your number is called and ultimately to help us win.”

– Wizards coach Brian Keefe said the focus on his team going in was internal improvement.

– “We’re solely focused on getting our group better,” he said.

– He added, “We’re just starting our thing here. We’re looking to build something important.”

– With Marvin Bagley Jr. and Richaun Holmes out, the Wizards opened with Kyle Kuzma at center.

– Because at 10-53, why not?