5 Games that gave Miami Heat fans a glimpse into the future

With the Miami Heat suffering key injuries throughout the season, there were many opportunities for players to step into a larger role and carry a lot of responsibilities on both ends of the floor.

In multiple games, it was Bam Adebayo leading the charge along with rookies and second-year starters such as Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic making their presence felt and a case as to why they should be a part of Miami's longerm plans.

Let's take a look at five games that gave Heat Nation a look into the future.

1. Jaquez and Adebayo close out the Kings in Sacramento

In a game where the Miami Heat nearly blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, Jaime Jaquez and Bam Adebayo made a plethora of key plays down the stretch to avoid disaster and pick up a 121-110 victory against the Sacramento Kings.

With Miami's offense beginning to hit a wall, the Heat trusted Jaquez in isolation situations to get timely buckets in which Jaquez delivered, hitting a fadeaway over Kevin Huerter and a floater against Domantas Sabonis.

Jaquez used his size and strength to his advantage whenever a smaller guard was matched up with him and produced a great amount of quality looks. Jaquez stepped up big time in Jimmy Butler's absence and finished the game with 26 points and shot 70 percent from the floor.

On the other hand, Adebayo got off to an electric start and scored 11 points with three dimes in the first quarter. Adebayo generated great looks in the pick-and-roll by putting Sabonis in the action who has his struggles on defense. Adebayo then added his clutch buckets in the fourth quarter by sinking a jumper over Sabonis and a turnaround over Huerter which put the Heat up six in both instances.

Adebayo finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and a nasty block on Trey Lyles to close the curtains on the Kings fourth-quarter rally.

With no Butler, the game is going to run through Adebayo a majority of the time when he is on the floor. But with performances like this, Jaquez showed he can come up clutch and fans can expect more games in the future with Adebayo and Jaquez making big-time plays to secure victories.