After playing poorly to begin the season, the Miami Heat gave supporters cause for optimism with a convincing victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

The 2023–24 NBA season got off to a terrible start for the Heat. Miami had a 1-4 record through their first five games and nothing resembled the team that had won the Eastern Conference title the previous postseason. Since the 2007–08 season, the team’s starting record was the poorest (0–5). It was the second-worst record in the NBA this season when compared to other clubs, only bettered by the winless Grizzlies.

The offense’s struggles during the first five games were a big worry. Although shooters were making their shots, Miami was failing to convert inside shots. At times, the offensive appeared unpredictable and disorganized, and the club frequently struggled with ball handling.

A further worry was Jimmy Butler’s unsettling appearance. The leading scorer for Miami, who finished the 2023–24 season with an average of 23 points per game, started the season with just 16.5 points per game. Butler was not very effective, and it appeared as though he was beginning to deteriorate. What the Heat could not afford was this.

Fortunately for Miami, Friday night’s game against Washington proved to be different. This was the Heat’s opening game in the in-season competition. It seems to have revived Miami’s competitive spirit, so it couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

The Heat were led by Tyler Herro, who finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. Early in the game, Butler went to the free-throw line and finished with 20 points on 5 of 6 shots from there. The team as a whole shared the ball well and made shots.

The Heat still need to improve in a few areas. For instance, the Heat’s six turnovers in the fourth quarter allowed Washington to score a run. Miami needs to make amends for these late-game choices if they want to prevail over more formidable opponents.

It should come as no surprise that the Miami Heat prevailed because the Washington Wizards are among their worst opponents in the East. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to watch Miami perform as they always do.