Heat’s Slide Continues: Spoelstra Demands More as Miami Drops 7th in 8 Games
The Miami Heat are in the thick of a rough stretch, and Monday night’s 132-125 loss to the New York Knicks only added to the frustration. That’s now seven losses in their last eight games-a skid that’s put a serious dent in the early-season optimism. And while the offense showed signs of life at Madison Square Garden, the defensive issues continue to drag this team down.
After the game, head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t sugarcoat what he’s seeing. Yes, there are glimpses of progress, but in a league that punishes inconsistency, glimpses don’t cut it.
“I definitely see things,” Spoelstra said postgame. “We are developing a collective, competitive will, and these painful games eventually are going to be wins.”
That’s Spoelstra’s way of saying the foundation is there, but the execution isn’t. And with the Heat now sitting at 15-14-just a game above .500-it’s clear that moral victories aren't the goal. Not for a franchise that’s built its identity around grit, defense, and postseason pedigree.
“We’re not happy about the result,” Spoelstra continued. “We’re not trying to just play well and lose at the end.
Our guys care in the locker room, but it’s got to be another level. It’s not enough.
It’s got to be more. This league is a savage league.
It’s survival of the competitive toughest, and that’s where we’re going to get.”
That message cuts deep because it’s true. The Heat haven’t looked like themselves lately, especially in close games.
Over the last eight, they’re just 1-4 in clutch situations-games decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes. That’s where Miami used to thrive.
Now, they’re searching for answers.
Still, there were positives in the loss to New York. The Heat’s offense looked more like the version that opened the season hot, putting up 125 points behind a strong shooting night.
Miami hit 45 percent from beyond the arc and even held a 10-point lead in the first half. But the defense couldn’t hold up, and the Knicks-who’ve been rolling offensively-took full advantage.
Kel’el Ware was a bright spot, delivering one of his most dominant performances of the season with 28 points and 19 rebounds. The rookie big man continues to show flashes of becoming a major piece for Miami, and his activity on the glass kept the Heat in it longer than they probably should’ve been.
Davion Mitchell added 13 points and eight assists, and echoed Spoelstra’s message about staying the course.
“There are going to be ups and downs throughout the season. It’s 82 games, no one’s always on a high,” Mitchell said.
Coach Spo says the Heat need to care more than they do right now
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 22, 2025
"Our guys care in the locker room but has to be another level. Has to be more. Its not enough. Its a savage league. Its survival of the competitive toughest. Thats where we're gonna get."
Coach Spo was visibly… https://t.co/SyN5z3CqYN pic.twitter.com/XT8FK47ZS5
“I think right now we’re just going through it. But we’re playing hard, that’s the thing.
We’re playing hard. It’s not like we’re quitting out there.”
That effort is there-but as Spoelstra emphasized, effort without execution doesn’t win games in the NBA. Especially not in December, when teams start separating themselves.
Norm Powell chipped in 22 points and pointed to the inconsistency in Miami’s game flow as a major issue.
“We have good stretches and runs,” Powell said. “But we got to learn and understand and see how we can extend those five, six, seven, eight, ten minutes into 24 minutes, into 36. We got to figure out how to continue to extend and keep the game working in our favor.”
That’s been the theme of this stretch-spurts of strong play that just don’t last long enough. Whether it’s a defensive breakdown, a cold shooting spell, or a lack of late-game execution, the Heat haven’t been able to string together a full 48 minutes.
Now at 15-14, Miami returns home to face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. It’s a chance to stop the bleeding and get back to the identity that’s defined this team under Spoelstra. But if they’re going to turn the corner, it has to start with a tougher, more connected defensive effort-and a collective will that turns “almost” into wins.