Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 98-95 victory over the Boston Celtics:

– A week from now, Eastern Conference coaches will have to submit ballots for reserves selections for the All-Star Game.

– On Tuesday night, with the Heat playing in the injury absence of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo showed he can stand as a singular star.

– With every ounce of his effort needed.

– In the scoring column.

– On the boards.

– On the defensive end.

– As complete an effort as the Heat have seen this season.

– Each moment meaningful.

– Including a feathery late jumper.

– The continuity with the Heat’s starting lineup lasted three games.

– With Butler out due to lower-back tightness that the team said was sustained pregame, it put on hold the preferred starting group of Butler, Adebayo, Caleb Martin, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry.

– That had Max Strus making yet another emergency start.

– Butler had trouble loosening up before the game.

– For his part Martin continues to work back from the quadriceps strain that had him out until the Jan. 16 game in Atlanta.

– “There’s still some leftover stuff I’m dealing with,” he said. “But overall I feel good enough to go do what I need to do.”

– He still doesn’t look all the way back.

– With the start, Lowry tied Chris Webber for 94th on the NBA all-time list.

– With the appearance Adebayo tied Eddie Jones for 11th on the Heat all-time regular-season games list.

– Perhaps coincidence, but the news of the Butler absence came after the Celtics confirmed that they would be without Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Al Horford.

– Smart is still a week or two from returning from his ankle sprain.

– With Brown and Horford, it was more a case of rest than injury.

– With the NBA scheduling the Celtics for a Monday …read more

Source:: The Denver Post