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Ira Winderman: Erik Spoelstra, pregame, on Norman Powell (calf) being out tonight in Houston, "It just tightened up on him this morning. He wasn't able to loosen it up right now. So we'll treat him each day, like everybody else. And until that point, everybody else that's available is playing, and that's what we're focused on right now."
Ira Winderman: Norman Powell (calf) is out tonight for Heat in Houston. So no Powell, no Andrew Wiggins, no Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Barry Jackson: With Wiggins and jaime Jaquez out tonight, Heat has added Norman Powell to injury report as questionable because of calf tightness.... Two who had been questionable -- Larsson and Fontecchio -- have been changed to available... The 3 two-way contract guys are out.
"It's not an accident that teams like the Lakers, Clippers, Heat and Warriors all have lined up to have cap space in 2027 when Giannis can be a free agent," one NBA executive told ESPN. "A player like Giannis can tilt the balance of power in the league for years to come. "What nobody knows yet is whether they'll really trade him before he gets to free agency -- and how they're making that decision."
“So that’s another good one in terms of: when do you know? You could go viral every day if you wanted. You can report something every day if you want, but if it has long-term ramifications for your credibility, your responsibility, how you treat people, and your relationships, then obviously you have to make a decision. If something you report is going to be unfair or irresponsible, or you’re not giving it the proper time to really marinate and play out, then you’re putting yourself in a tough spot.” Shams Charania: “So yeah, the Giannis one, specifically, is certainly one where I think a million times I could have probably reported exactly what I reported the week before the deadline, which was that he was prepared and ready to move on and the team was listening to offers. They literally were listening to the New York Knicks making offers in October. “So they had listened to offers, but the slight difference was that it had reached such a fever pitch at that point, and they were talking to and listening to Minnesota, Golden State, and Miami. And I’m going on TV. I’m having to report on this. He’s one of the biggest names in the NBA, one of the best players in the NBA. “It’s irresponsible for me not to report, not to do my job. What I think about more than anything is that I’m a servant for the audience. The audience is going to be let down if I’m not reporting what’s actually going on behind the scenes—not what someone might be telling you, or something you want to hear, or something that might be easier on the ears. I’m always going to try to keep it real when I can.”
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Charles Barkley on Bam Adebayo: I like him a lot as a person. I think he represents everything that's good about the game. There was clearly some things about that game I did not like: The fouling, just giving him the ball every single time... Ernie Johnson: He says if you want to blame somebody, blame Brian Keefe, the Wizards head coach. He said he shouldn't have waited till I had 70 to start throwing another guy at me. Barkley: Yeah, but like I say, Bam, great accomplishment. People going to have a debate, but I'm never going to say anything bad about Bam cuz I got love and respect for that guy. He represents everything good about the NBA.
Anthony Chiang: Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. remain out for tomorrow vs. Rockets in Houston. Pelle Larsson (foot) and Simone Fontecchio (back) are questionable.
Luka Doncic missed his first free throw and stepped away from the line and smiled while composing himself before making the second -- notching the third game of at least 60 points in his career and the highest-scoring game by an opponent in Miami, eclipsing James Harden's 58 on Feb. 28, 2019. When the final buzzer sounded, Doncic was mobbed by his teammates, who circled him to celebrate his fourth game with 40-plus points in the past eight games. "I mean, that's what it's all about," Doncic said of his team's reaction. "You see everybody celebrating on the bench ... it shows that we care a lot about each other. And that's what great teams do. Just makes my heart happy seeing them celebrate my 60-point game."
ESPN: "I know what it's like to be in that mode, ... as people can see it's not easy to hit 80." —Bam Adebayo after Luka dropped 60 PTS vs. the Heat 👀
"I know what it's like to be in that mode, ... as people can see it's not easy to hit 80."
— ESPN (@espn) March 20, 2026
—Bam Adebayo after Luka dropped 60 PTS vs. the Heat 👀 pic.twitter.com/AS9f7BG9mX
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Dave McMenamin: JJ Redick says LeBron James and Luka Doncic will play tonight in Miami. Austin Reaves remains a gametime decision.
But team officials had a surprise. They delayed the flight and rented out a section at the famous Toronto sports bar Real Sports, next door to the Raptors' arena, where there is a 40-foot-wide screen. And there was an open bar too. The beer flowed and Heat forward Shane Battier got drunk on Anchor Steam, stealing a Colin Kaepernick jersey off a dummy set up for the occasion. Later, on the way to the airport, Battier grabbed the microphone on the bus and gave an impromptu speech to his lubed-up teammates to "touch the people" as he urged them to take advantage of the Heat's popularity in that time and place.
The Heat's win streak ended a week later in Chicago, on March 27, when the Chicago Bulls jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and prevented the Heat from going on one of their patented runs. The crowd at United Center celebrated heartily after their team held on to a 101-97 victory to end the Heat's quest for history. Only one team since has won more than 20 in a row, when the 2015-16 Warriors opened the season 24-0 on the way to their record 73-win season.
