SALT LAKE CITY – Against another opponent on another night, the Miami Heat’s momentum might have stalled. Instead the perfect opponent to end a five-game, 10-day trip.
Against a team that entered 1-9 and was without four of five starters, the Heat made it three victories in their last four games with a 115-109 victory Tuesday night over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center.
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While it wasn’t as easy as expected, and while the record still is underwater at 5-6, the victory completed a 3-2 western swing for Erik Spoelstra’s team, with a five-game homestand to follow.
Not only did the Jazz enter with the league’s worst record, but they were without starters Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic.
So while it was somewhat shaky, the Heat did (barely) enough, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo battling an ongoing wrist issue and this time foul trouble, as well.
With Antetokounmpo still working his way to 30 points and 11 rebounds, the Heat had enough against an opponent that got 25 points from No. 2 2026 draft pick Darryn Peterson and 23 from Ace Baily.
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In support of Antetokounmpo, the Heat got 19 points, eight assists and five rebounds from Davion Mitchell, on a night Bam Adebayo was held to 11 points along with eight rebounds.
Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s game:
1. Game flow: The Heat led 29-25 after the first period. They then pushed their lead to 17 in the second period, and then went into halftime up 64-54, unable to build more of a lead despite 11 first-half Jazz turnovers.
The Jazz then trimmed their deficit to six early in the third period, before the Heat pushed their lead to 85-66 on an Antetokounmpo 3-pointer midway through the third, going up 23, before taking a 92-72 into the fourth.
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From there, though, the Jazz moved within 101-93 with 6:42 to play on consecutive Isaiah Collier 3-pointers.
That is when Antetokounmpo settled the offense, as the Heat mostly settled the game, aided by a Klay Thompson chase-down block when the Jazz threatened to close within five with 65 seconds to play.
And even then, it required another transition block, this time by Adebayo, when the Jazz threatened to close within three with 22.1 seconds to play.
2. Waiting game: Antetokounmpo had been downgraded from probable to questionable 90 minutes before tip due to his sprained right wrist that has been taped postgame recently.
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Then, an hour before tip, the Heat announced Antetokounmpo was good to go.
Of the initial indecision, Spoelstra said, “We just have to evaluate where he is, just like we would with anybody else.”
The calculus with Antetokounmpo nonetheless changed when he was called for his second foul with 5:33 left in the opening period, forcing Adebayo to quickly return amid his first rest of the night.
Antetokounmpo then iced his wrist while on the bench.
Antetokounmpo then was called for his third foul with 6:33 left in the second period, a call Spoelstra unsuccessfully challenged, nonetheless leaving Antetokounmpo in the game at that stage.
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With his eighth point, Antetokounmpo passed Gary Payton (21,813) for 39th place on the NBA all-time scoring list.
Antetokounmpo closed 12 of 21 from the field, 5 of 9 from the line, with free throws remaining an ongoing Heat issue.
3. More change: The Heat for the second consecutive game played with Pelle Larsson as their starting small forward, with Andrew Wiggins therefore playing his second game of the season off the bench.
The recent changes continued further down the rotation, with Ryan Conwell playing ahead of Tim Hardaway Jr.
Wiggins entered midway through the opening period.
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The rotational realignment then continued at the top of the second period, when Myron Gardner and Simone Fontecchio entered, as Hardaway remained planted on the bench.
Wiggins closed with 13 points, Conwell with five, Gardner with four and Fontecchio with three.
4. Rough go: Adebayo opened 0 for 6 from the field, at one point early in the third period with four fouls and six points.
The Jazz continually offered Adebayo open outside attempts, including a pair of wayward 3-point shots.
Adebayo did not convert his first basket until 8:12 remained, when he converted an 11-foot jumper to move to 1 of 7, on the way to his 1-of-8 close.
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5. Onward: Up next for the Heat is a five-game homestand that opens with a Friday-Saturday back-to-back set against the Cleveland Cavaliers and then Detroit Pistons. The Heat are not on the road again until Nov. 25 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the day before Thanksgiving.
