The Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108-107 on Monday night at Kaseya Center to finish a three-game homestand at 2-1. Here are five things to remember from the game.

The Heat (3-4) will now travel to Memphis to play the Grizzlies for four games starting on Wednesday:  Even though the Heat struggled mightily in the fourth quarter, they managed to pull out the victory. 

The Heat looked to have taken over as they led by as much as 13 points in the third quarter and 11 points going into the fourth.  With 7:52 remaining in the game, the Heat was up by 12 points, but the Lakers answered with a 19-8 run to cut the deficit to one point with 2:39 remaining in the game.  The Lakers missed their final four shots of the fourth quarter, which allowed the Heat to hold on for the victory even though Los Angeles had numerous opportunities to take the lead in the closing minutes. As the final buzzer sounded, Cam Reddish missed the Lakers’ last chance of the game, an open 22-foot jumper from the corner that ricocheted off the rim and into Heat star Jimmy Butler’s hands for the rebound. 

After the Lakers narrowed the deficit to one point, neither team scored in the final 2:39 of the game.  However, the Lakers prevailed 28–18 in the fourth quarter, highlighting the Heat’s ongoing problems. Thus far this season, the Heat have lost six of their first seven games due to being outscored in the fourth quarter.  The Heat managed just 18 points on 6-of-18 field goal and 1 of-9 three-point shooting in Monday’s dismal fourth quarter, while also committing nine turnovers. 

The two sides engaged in a back-and-forth first half that featured 12 lead changes and eight ties before the dramatic finish to the game. In the end, the Heat had a slim lead—62–59—at the half. 

Though all three of the Heat’s star players performed admirably, Bam Adebayo took the lead with a commanding all-around display.  In the victory on Monday, Tyler Herro, Adebayo, and Butler combined for 72 points as the Heat’s starting trio. 

Adebayo recorded his seventh triple-double of his NBA career with a total of 22 points on 9 of 20 field goal shooting, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. He also had a triple-double during the playoffs the previous season. He added two steals and two blocks to his customary outstanding defense.  Butler finished with 28 points on 9 of 15 field goal attempts, 3 of 4 three-pointers, 7 of 7 foul shots, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists. 

Herro finished with five rebounds, five assists, and 22 points on 8 of 20 shooting from the field.

However, he only made 2 of 10 effective three-pointers.  However, Adebayo’s triple-double—which resulted in the first 20 rebound triple-double in Heat history—became the night’s highlight. Just one rebound separated him from his career high in the end. 

With 7:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, Adebayo finished with a triple-double after dishing up his tenth assist on a hit-ahead pass to rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. for a transition layup.  Adebayo started the first quarter with nine points, four rebounds, and five assists, setting a triple-double pace. He had 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists at the half.  Adebayo made his first three-pointer of the season, which is another noteworthy feature of his performance.

With ten minutes remaining in the first quarter, he took advantage of the cushion Lakers center Anthony Davis had given him to draw up for the above-the-break three. It happened inside the flow of the offense. 

For the second straight game, the Heat started with their new lineup, but the outcome wasn’t as favorable.  Kevin Love was the Heat’s starting power forward at the beginning of the season.

However, for the second consecutive game on Monday, the Heat began Haywood Highsmith over Love in that position.  Following the Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Highsmith, and Adebayo starting lineup, which scored a positive plus