After a grueling back-to-back road set, Erik Spoelstra didn’t want to hear about excuses - only effort. And that’s exactly what his Miami Heat delivered.
Coming off a brutal turnaround with less than 22 hours between games and a 6 a.m. bedtime, the Heat could’ve folded. Instead, they leaned into the adversity.
Spoelstra called it “a fun challenge,” the kind of scheduling gauntlet that often turns into a loss on paper. But this group didn’t just survive it - they embraced it.
“We were tested at the start of the third,” Spoelstra said postgame. “We responded.
Then in the fourth, they made a run, and we responded again. That swing moment - it’s going to happen.
Rarely do you just pull away and stay away in this league.”
That resilience, Spoelstra emphasized, came down to something deeper than X’s and O’s: the team’s collective spirit.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Steps Up - Again
One of the biggest sparks down the stretch? Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., who once again showed he’s not afraid of the moment.
Spoelstra admitted he hadn’t planned to play Jaquez as many minutes as he did, but when a guy’s generating that much offense, you ride the hot hand.
“They started to up their pressure, they went small with O’Neale at the five, and we were looking for advantages,” Spoelstra explained. “That advantage ended up being Jaime - getting into the paint, making plays.”
Earlier in the season, Jaquez had been dishing out kickouts. This time, he was finishing at the rim, reading the defense and taking what they gave him.
That downhill attacking mindset? It’s when Miami’s offense hums.
Myron and Dru Smith Make the Most of Their Moments
Spoelstra also gave a nod to the contributions of Myron and Dru Smith - two players who might not light up the box score but made their presence felt in key moments.
With Myron, it’s all about energy. “You feel it right away,” Spoelstra said.
“There’s going to be something - some kind of action. He’s finding ways to make it positive for the team.
It’s just unbridled effort and energy.”
And Dru Smith? He’s quietly becoming one of Miami’s most dependable defenders.
Spoelstra highlighted his five-steal performance the night before - and said the deflection count was even more impressive. But even without gaudy stats, Smith’s impact is clear.
“Tonight he was all over the place,” Spoelstra said. “Just that steadying presence.
When we put the ball in Jaime’s hands, Drew found a way to get in the right spot. And defensively, he was just really good - particularly against the perimeter pick-and-roll stuff they run.
He stayed disciplined, communicated, and took away those three-point windows.”
Norman Powell Guts It Out
Veteran Norman Powell also earned praise for his toughness. Battling through back issues and running on fumes after the quick turnaround, Powell still suited up - and found ways to contribute even when his shot wasn’t falling.
“This one was in question,” Spoelstra admitted. “The only real rest we had was on the plane. But he wanted to give it a go, passed all the tests, and gave us 10 rebounds.”
Powell’s scoring may have been off, and he didn’t get the foul calls he’s used to, but his presence alone created defensive reactions. That’s the value of a seasoned vet - finding ways to impact the game even when the stat line doesn’t pop.
A Well-Earned Break on the Horizon
With a rare two-day break coming up in January, the Heat will finally have a chance to catch their breath. After a stretch like this, it’s more than deserved.
But if there’s one thing Spoelstra and his team showed on this road trip, it’s that they’re not just built to weather the grind - they’re built to thrive in it. And that kind of mentality? It travels.