The Miami Heat’s losing streak hit 10 games after a 102-98 defeat against the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Head coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the team’s struggles but emphasized that progress is being made.
“In the fourth quarter again, probably the biggest plays were those second chance opportunities,” Spoelstra said, per Zach Weinberger. “The game was going back and forth. We actually got some decent looks. We missed some very makeable shots.”
Miami (29-41) held an 11-point lead early in the second half but could not contain Fred VanVleet, who torched them for 37 points. The Rockets (46-25) secured their ninth consecutive win, overpowering the Heat on the boards with a 46-34 rebounding advantage.
Spoelstra pointed to turnovers and second-chance points as deciding factors. “Obviously, a couple of turnovers in the fourth didn’t help our cause,” he said. “But I would say the biggest thing was the separation, or any kind of turnover that led to something easy going on the other end.”
Andrew Wiggins led Miami with 30 points, while rookie Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 14 rebounds. Bam Adebayo also added 16 points, but the Heat faltered down the stretch. VanVleet’s nine three-pointers proved too much, and Jalen Green sealed the win with a clutch jumper late in the third quarter.
Miami’s 10-game skid is their longest since the 2007-08 season. They remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference but have now blown 20 double-digit leads this season. Houston, meanwhile, continues to solidify its position as the No. 2 seed in the West.
