Game ID: 22300708
LA Clippers @ Miami Heat
Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIA 22 21 24 28 95LAC 19 24 26 34 103
LAC @ MIA ScoutingLAC @ MIA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIA availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jaquez Jr. missed 6 since 1/15, returns tonight: 24 min (84% of 28)
OUT Cain missed 10 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 10 min since (65% of 16)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 10 min since (84% of 12)
MIA availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Cain missed 11 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 24 min since (84% of 28)
BACK Love back 1/19 after 3, 11 min since (71% of 16)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 10 min since (84% of 12)
MIA availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Bryant missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 12)
OUT Cain missed 12 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 24 min since (86% of 28)
MIA availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 13 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 25 min since (87% of 28)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 7 min since (64% of 12)
MIA availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 2 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 14 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 25 min since (88% of 28)
BACK Bryant back 1/31 after 2, 3 min since (23% of 12)
MIA availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 3 since 1/31, returns tonight: 22 min (80% of 27)
OUT Jović missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 15 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 1/27 after 6, 25 min since (88% of 28)
MIA availability going into 2/07 · back-to-backOUT Jović missed 5 since 1/29, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 20)
OUT Bryant missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 16 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 22 min since (80% of 27)
MIA availability going into 2/11 · 3 days' restOUT Bryant missed 4 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 17 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 20 min since (75% of 27)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 2 min since (12% of 20)
MIA availability going into 2/13 · 1 day's restOUT Bryant missed 5 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 18 since 1/08, returns tonight: 6 min (63% of 10)
BACK Robinson back 2/06 after 3, 24 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Jović back 2/07 after 5, 2 min since (12% of 20)
LAC availability going into 1/27 · back-to-backOUT Zubac missed 5 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 27 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 21 min since (145% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 6 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 28 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (43% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 6 min since (59% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 7 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 29 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (43% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 4 min since (41% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 8 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 30 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 9 since 1/14, returns tonight: 18 min (68% of 27)
OUT Tucker missed 31 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 8 min since (84% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 32 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 18 min since (68% of 27)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 33 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 2/04, returns tonight: 4 min (35% of 10)
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 18 min since (68% of 27)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restOUT Tucker missed 34 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (74% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 35 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (74% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 20 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 25 and Herro at 17 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight), Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 17 a game. Without Zubac (9 straight), Tucker (31 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 111 a night to Miami's 119. Call it the Clippers 117, Miami 112.
1/27 @ NYK 109-125 — MIA notes
MIA lost 109-125. MIA shot 47% (41 of 88) to NYK's 52%, 14 of 37 from three, and got to the line 16 times to NYK's 26. Butler III led with 28 (11 of 20, 1 of 3 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Robinson added 19, Herro 18. Q3 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 97-74 against them. They led by as many as 10. Adebayo's -20 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 vs PHX 105-118 — MIA notes
MIA lost 105-118. MIA shot 39% (33 of 84) to PHX's 49%, 14 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHX's 17 — 25 points from the stripe to their 12. Butler III led with 26 (7 of 12, 10 of 10 at the line); Rozier added 21, Herro 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-18, the deficit cut from 26 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 100-74 against them. Rozier's -21 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 vs SAC 115-106 — MIA notes
MIA won 115-106. MIA shot 50% (42 of 84) to SAC's 44%, 13 of 28 from three. Butler III led with 31 (10 of 14, 2 of 3 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Richardson added 24, Adebayo 16. The hinge was Q1, 28-22: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Jaquez Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/02 @ WAS 110-102 — MIA notes
MIA won 110-102. MIA shot 43% (38 of 88) to WAS's 41%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 35 times to WAS's 21 — 27 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 59-43 for them. Butler III led with 24 (7 of 10, 9 of 13 at the line); Adebayo added 20, Herro 15. The hinge was Q3, 31-15: MIA came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 16. MIA trailed 56-59 at the half and won the second half 54-43. Love was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/04 vs LAC 95-103 — MIA notes
MIA lost 95-103. MIA took 14 more shots (91 to 77), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to LAC's 44%, 8 of 30 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 19 fouls committed. MIA turned it over 10 times to LAC's 15. Butler III led with 21 (8 of 19, 2 of 5 from three); Rozier added 17, Adebayo 14. Q1 was theirs, 22-19, but the other 3 periods went 84-73 against them. They led by as many as 11. Jaquez Jr.'s -9 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/06 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 26 and Herro at 16 a game. Without Robinson (3 straight), Jović (4 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Bitadze (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 39 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Miami 111, Orlando 110, Orlando keeping it close.
2/07 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Butler III at 25 and Herro at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Jović (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vassell at 25 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. 3 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 105 a night to San Antonio's 114 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to Miami's 11. Call it Miami 114, San Antonio 108.
2/11 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Butler III at 23 and Adebayo at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 3 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Porziņģis at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Boston's 115 and the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Miami's 33. Call it Miami 114, Boston 113, Boston keeping it close.
2/13 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 27 and Lillard at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Middleton (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Butler III at 21 and Herro at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-5 and the arc, Milwaukee at 38 percent from three to Miami's 30. Call it Milwaukee 113, Miami 112, Miami keeping it close.
1/27 @ BOS 115-96 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-96. LAC shot 44% (45 of 102) to BOS's 36%, 10 of 40 from three. Leonard led with 26 (10 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Theis added 18, George 17. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 16 became 31, and the lead reached 36. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
1/29 @ CLE 108-118 — LAC notes
LAC lost 108-118. LAC shot 48% (38 of 80) to CLE's 49%, 11 of 34 from three. Leonard led with 30 (13 of 25, 2 of 7 from three); Powell added 18, Coffey 13. Q2 was theirs, 27-28, but the other 3 periods went 90-81 against them. Plumlee's -11 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ WAS 125-109 — LAC notes
LAC won 125-109. LAC shot 47% (47 of 100) to WAS's 46%, 12 of 30 from three, and went to the line 22 times to WAS's 15 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. LAC turned it over 8 times to WAS's 13. Leonard led with 31 (14 of 25, 1 of 4 from three); Harden added 25, Coffey 17. The hinge was Q3, 40-19: a lead of 6 became 27. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/02 @ DET 136-125 — LAC notes
LAC won 136-125. LAC shot 60% (53 of 89) to DET's 51%, 14 of 29 from three. LAC turned it over 9 times to DET's 16. Leonard led with 33 (12 of 17, 6 of 8 from three); Westbrook added 23, George 18. The hinge was Q2, 38-26: LAC came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 20. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/04 @ MIA 103-95 — LAC notes
LAC won 103-95. LAC shot 44% (34 of 77) to MIA's 42%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 22 times to MIA's 12 — 19 points from the stripe to their 11. LAC turned it over 15 times to MIA's 10, and MIA turned those into 9 steals. Leonard led with 25 (8 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Harden added 21, Powell 16. The hinge was Q4, 34-28: a lead of 2 became 8. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
2/05 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 135 a night and allowing 130, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Krejčí (21 straight), Fernando (7 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Tucker (32 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 121, the Clippers 120, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/07 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and Harden at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (33 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Williamson at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to New Orleans's 34 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it the Clippers 119, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/10 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Harden at 20 a game. Without Tucker (34 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ivey at 25 and Cunningham at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Stewart (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers plus-1. Call it the Clippers 123, Detroit 115.
2/12 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 18 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Tucker (35 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 3 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 117. Call it the Clippers 115, Minnesota 114, Minnesota keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MIABA B. Adebayo
BU Butler
CM C. Martin
HH H. Highsmith
JB J. Butler III
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
JR J. Richardson
KL K. Love
TR T. Rozier
LACAC A. Coffey
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KL K. Leonard
MP M. Plumlee
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
MIA/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Kawhi Leonard scores 25, Clippers top Heat 103-95 for 25th win in last 30 games
MIAMI -- — The Los Angeles Clippers have been on the road for nearly two weeks, forced from their home building because of the Grammy Awards.
It hasn't slowed the Clippers down whatsoever.
Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and 11 rebounds, James Harden scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half and the Clippers remained red-hot by topping the sliding Miami Heat 103-95 on Sunday night. They improved to 5-1 on their seven-game, 11-day trip that ends Monday night in Atlanta.
“You get those mental blocks at this stage but we've been staying afloat,” Leonard said. “Appreciate everybody coming out and playing and staying locked-in. Those are the things that I'm happy about.”
The Clippers are more than “staying afloat.” They are 25-5 since the start of December — by far the best record in the NBA over that span. Harden flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 11 assists and eight assists. Norman Powell scored 16 points and Paul George added 11 for the Clippers.
“It's just having that mindset that we're going to try to win every game,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I give guys credit. They've been doing that. We have a lot of talent. We have a lot of guys willing to sacrifice to do whatever it takes to win, and that's what we did.”
Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Terry Rozier finished with 17 for the Heat, who fell to 2-8 in their last 10. Bam Adebayo and Josh Richardson each had 14 points for Miami.
“We have to figure out how to make it flow,” Adebayo said. “You have to make it flow or it's not going to work. ... We've been in worse situations.”
Adebayo grabbed 13 rebounds and Caleb Martin scored 11 points for Miami, which played without its two best 3-point shooters. Duncan Robinson remains in the NBA's concussion protocols and Tyler Herro was slated to start Sunday, then was a very late scratch after being diagnosed with a migraine.
Miami was held under 100 points for the 12th time this season. The Heat are 2-10 in those games; only Portland and Charlotte have more such games this season.
“There are some things offensively you can do with better pace and better intention," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That’s not exclusive to us. And we’ll work on that and we’ll get better.”
The teams combined for seven first-half fouls, the fewest in any NBA game this season. The 43 points was a season-low for the Clippers and tied the third-fewest by halftime for the Heat. And the 86 combined points by the break was the sixth-fewest out of more than 700 games played so far this season.
But the second half saw every offensive number tip the Clippers' way. They shot 50% to Miami's 42%, outscored the Heat 27-12 from the 3-point line and were 17 for 20 from the foul line — compared with Miami's 6 for 6.