Heat coach Erik Spoelstra kept tinkering with his bench, granting Simone Fontecchio and Myron Gardner larger roles in Tuesday’s win at Utah, reports Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Fontecchio logged three points in seven minutes; Gardner added four points, three boards and an assist in ten minutes, a rare chance for two players usually sidelined. Could this spark a deeper rotation shift?
“I wanted a burst of energy, and they delivered in the second quarter,” Spoelstra said.
Bobby Portis, Andrew Wiggins and Ryan Conwell shouldered most bench minutes while free‑agent addition Tim Hardaway Jr. logged his first DNP‑CD. Hardaway averaged 18.4 minutes over the first seven games, yet his shooting has stalled at 4.6 points per game, 26.9% field and 23.7% from three.
“I’ve known Tim a long time,” Spoelstra noted. “He’s got grit and will find a way to make a big impact, just as we expected. For now we’ll stick with this and see what happens.”
More Heat updates follow:
- The new‑look starting lineup, featuring Pelle Larsson in place of Wiggins for the second straight game, delivered another solid performance, outscoring Utah by five points during their combined 20 minutes, Chiang notes. Larsson poured in 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes. For my money, Larsson’s surge could reshape Miami’s frontcourt.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo was listed as questionable after a sprained right wrist but still logged 31 minutes, Chiang adds. He iced his wrist when off the floor. “We really appreciate his availability,” Spoelstra said. “Many would have sat out a road trip like this; he stepped up and was great for us tonight.”
- Doc Rivers, who coached Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, said he sent an apology for recent critical remarks, yet Giannis declined to discuss it Tuesday, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun‑Sentinel. “I don’t know if he texted me. I haven’t checked my phone,” Rivers said. “Even if he did, that’s private between us and will stay that way.” Will the tension between Rivers and Giannis ever fully heal?