Heat vs. Timberwolves Takeaways: Tyler Herro Picks Up

A look at five of the biggest takeaways from the Miami Heat’s Monday evening loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Miami Heat suffered another nail-biting defeat.

This time to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the return of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

Here’s a look at five major takeaways:

1. Tyler Herro picked up right where he left off before injury.

The star guard had no problems returning to his former level of play after missing 18 games. He was averaging more than 22 points in eight appearances prior to injury. In Monday’s contest, he recorded 25 points, three rebounds, and two steals on 55.6 percent shooting. Herro displayed heavy amounts of aggression, almost like he was never gone.

2. Miami fell apart towards the end of the game.

It was a nerve-racking ending for the Heat after leading by more than 10 points at halftime. Minnesota outscored them in the final two quarters, 58-42. This is a recurring problem for coach Erik Spoelstra and the team, which must be solved to find a postseason triumph.

3. Adebayo outshined the Wolves dominant frontcourt in his return.

Despite coming back after an eight-game absence, Adebayo outperformed Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert on the offensive end. He scored 22 points along with six rebounds and six assists on 45.5 percent shooting. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s frontcourt combined for 27 points on 10 of 22 shooting.

4. A healthy Miami roster poses a serious threat to championship contenders.

Without Adebayo and Herro, the Heat held their own but struggled against the top teams in the league. However, with their Big Three back in the lineup, they lost by four points to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. If health is sustained, Miami holds a chance of returning to the NBA Finals. Not to mention, key contributors Kyle Lowry and Haywood Highsmith were sidelined.

5. Anthony Edwards is matchup proof.

No matter who the rising superstar is facing, he seemingly delivers. Edwards wrapped up the game with 32 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks. The confidence of the 22-year-old mirrors that of Jimmy Butler throughout his career.