Heat Struggle Without Herro and Powell, Lakers Capitalize

On November 2, 2025, the Miami Heat faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a back-to-back matchup. The Heat were still without the services of Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, who were dealing with injuries. Meanwhile, the Lakers welcomed back Luka Dončić to their lineup.

The Heat's struggles were evident from the start, as they were unable to hit their usual 3-pointers. Despite Kel'el Ware's early three-pointer, the Heat went just 1-for-12 from beyond the arc in the first half, shooting below 30% from deep. This put them in a tough spot, as their outside shooting was a crucial part of their offense without their two star scorers.

However, Jaime Jaquez Jr. provided a bright spot for the Heat, scoring 16 points in the first half and attacking the paint effectively. His ability to get to the free-throw line kept the Heat within striking distance.

In the second half, the Heat turned to their reliable zone defense to try and spark a comeback, but it was not enough to overcome the Lakers' lead. The zone defense was effective in slowing down the Lakers' offense, but the Heat lacked the scoring punch to capitalize on the defensive stops.

Ultimately, the Heat's inability to hit 3-pointers and the absence of Herro and Powell proved to be too much to overcome, as the Lakers secured the victory.