The Miami Heat began this year's preseason on a good note. However, they have fallen to 1-2 after suffering their second straight loss Saturday. Miami, which led as much as 16 points, fell to the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center, 93-90. Head coach Erik Spoelstra remains positive despite the defeat, the Miami Herald reported.
"Playing with intensity, playing with multiple efforts, playing with physicality, all of that is a habit, and these are habits you build every single day and not only at the practice we had [Friday], which was very good – shootaround was good – but we actually saw carryover during the course of the game tonight," Spoelstra said after the game.
He added that the passion the Heat had versus the Magic is what they expected. The two-time NBA champion also praised their rookies who saw action and played well.
Hopefully, Spoelstra's statements will inspire the Heat in the last three outings on their preseason schedule. This Monday, the Heat will start a two-game homestand when they take on the Charlotte Hornets.
Dion Waiters is back
Another positive in the Miami Heat's loss was the resurrection of Dion Waiters. In their first two preseason contests, Waiters struggled with his offense and scored a total of only nine points. Against the Orlando Magic, he dropped 17 points.
The 25-year-old provided a better all-around performance as he also tallied three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
These are the numbers the Heat want from Waiters who is one of their best players, especially on offense. In July, they re-signed him to a four-year deal worth $52 million.
Other leaders
Miami Heat players who also stood out in Saturday's defeat were Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside. Richardson led the Heat with 19 points, that came with two rebounds, four assists, four steals, and one block. The 24-year-old stepped up with Goran Dragic resting. In Dragic's absence, Richardson shared the ball-handling duties with Waiters.
Whiteside, on the other hand, had 17 points as well for Miami.
The Heat's franchise center completed a double-double performance as he grabbed a game-high 15 boards. Rodney McGruder and James Johnson also had significant contributions for the Heat. McGruder made three three-pointers to finish with nine points. Meanwhile, the veteran Johnson registered eight points, four rebounds, and four assists as a member of the second unit.