The Miami Heat didn’t have Jimmy Butler coming into Portland. Turning his ankle again in their last contest Monday against the Golden State Warriors, they would be without their best player for a Wednesday night showdown in the Moda Center.
Fortunately for them, the Blazers would be without their two best players as well in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Don’t be fooled, you always want to see a team at their best if you can but that’s when you are at your best as well.
So, “fortunate” is appropriate here. The Miami Heat still had an all-star-type going for them though, perhaps two (though the second hasn’t played well in a few games), but Kyle Lowry was enough to get them out to a hot start.
Getting out to nine quick dimes and seven points in 16 minutes of action, Kyle Lowry wouldn’t see his night go that long. Yes, it was that kind of night for the Heat’s main signal-caller.