Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra made it clear there would be no excuses for his team’s blowout loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. Despite missing star forward Jimmy Butler, who is serving a seven-game suspension, Spoelstra refused to attribute the 136-100 defeat to Butler’s absence.
“No, I don’t think we make any excuses for this,” Spoelstra said after the game. “We just took it on the chin, and we have to get to work. We have a long flight tomorrow, and it will be valuable time for the staff to try to get to work. I just want the guys to rest up and get our collective minds ready for a great opportunity on this road trip.”
Miami struggled throughout the game, particularly in the second quarter when Utah outscored the Heat 40-19, extending their lead to 62-41 by halftime. The Jazz went on to snap a five-game losing streak with a dominant win over the Heat, who now sit at 17-16 on the season.
Brice Sensabaugh was the standout for Utah, scoring a career-high 34 points, including 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. The Jazz’s offensive efficiency was evident, as they shot 52% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range, compared to Miami’s 25.7% from deep.
John Collins added 24 points and nine rebounds for Utah, while Walker Kessler registered a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. The Jazz starters contributed evenly, with Collin Sexton adding 17 points and Lauri Markkanen contributing 15.
The Heat’s shooting woes were glaring. Nikola Jovic led the team with 17 points, and Duncan Robinson chipped in 16, but Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo combined for just 19 points on 4-of-18 shooting. Miami’s three-point shooting, in particular, was abysmal, as they only managed to convert 9-of-35 attempts.
Rebounding was another area of concern for the Heat, as Utah dominated the glass with a 63-42 advantage. Kessler, in particular, was a force on the boards, grabbing seven offensive rebounds. The Jazz’s physicality on both ends was a key factor in their resounding victory.
While Miami had their struggles, Utah capitalized on their opportunities and showed no mercy. Sensabaugh’s breakout performance was a highlight for the Jazz, who also received significant contributions from their bench, which scored 65 points.
