MIAMI — The night began with Erik Spoelstra comparing the plights of his Miami Heat and the opposing Los Angeles Clippers, and how each team has had to contend with significant injury absences this season.
Thursday night, it was the Heat without Kyle Lowry, who was given his first night off of the season, with the Clippers without Kawhi Leonard, who remains in an ongoing maintenance program.
Against that backdrop, even with Jimmy Butler back after being held out of Tuesday night’s loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons, it again was another typical Heat fight to the desperate finish.
