First-year Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this team needed all of the work it can get. So far, that's resulted in two overtime loss in as many preseason games.
The latest came Thursday from a packed Bercy Arena, where Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley each scored 21 points to lead the Heat in a 100-98 loss the New Jersey Nets. Here's our postgame look at the game from the box score and beyond.
Player of the Game - Dwyane Wade. Clearly Wade has not missed a step from his Olympic form, and he said as much after finishing with 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 21 minutes. Wade has said he doesn't want to overdo it in the preseason, but felt a bit obligated to put on a show during this two-game stint as part of the NBA's Europe Live Tour.
"A couple of guys asked me before the game if it was going to be packed, and I told them yeah," Wade said. "I've been international. I told them it was going to be a great experience."
Wade then talked about being in mid-season form, physically. "I'm getting into an even better rhythm each game," Wade said. "I'm ahead of the level I would have been at had I not played in the Olympics. So it was good for me. I feel I can do the things physically I need to get done."
Tough night: Marcus Banks/Mario Chalmers - The Heats only two healthy point guards were feeling a bit sore after combining for 17 points, 10 fouls, 10 assists and 9 turnovers. Banks got the start and showed the ability early on to penetrate into the lane and find open shooters and slashers. But he also showed a lack of chemistry with Dwayne Wade on a couple of bad turnovers. Chalmers picked up three fouls in the first quarter and fouled out with 1.9 seconds left. Spoelstra has said Chalmers needs to limit those defensive gambles and stay in position. Devin Harris and Eddie Gill provided solid tests.
"The main thing is we've got a lot of time to get better," Banks said. "You have to realize that a lot of us are playing together really for the first time. We're going to be fine. We'll get it together."
Surprise, Surprise: Yakhouba Diawara - Maybe it was gesture to appease the hometown crowd. Maybe Diawara is deserving of the extended look. In either case, the Paris native was in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game. His shot has yet to arrive, but his defense is solid as advertised. Diawara drew the assignment of guarding Vince Carter, who was forced into some very difficult shots before he left the game in the second quarter with a strained hamstring. He had two crowd-pleasing dunks, but was just 4 of 12 from the field.
Major concern: Jamaal Magloire - The Heat announced after the game - and after the media sessions - that center Jamaal Magloire fractured a bone in his hand in the second half. Magloire was taken to a local hospital to confirm X-rays taken at the Arena. He will not accompany the team to London on Friday and will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Miami, but surgery might very well be required. Could this be the end - already - to the Magloire experiment? The Heat was hurting at center when they signed him to a vet's minimum deal last month. Now, Miami essentially is back where it started - with perimeter-oriented Mark Blount as the lone center on the roster with meaningful playing experience.
Faces in the Crowd - Actress Gabrielle Union was seated behind the Heat bench with Dwyane Wade's family for Thursday's game in Paris. Musician Lenny Kravitz was seated court-side across the Miami bench beside Heat owner Micky Arison and family.
Next up: Heat vs. Nets on Sunday in London.
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