The Miami Heat are trimming rookie center Kel’el Ware’s minutes as the club searches for defensive stability after Sunday’s 130-113 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Heat
Ware, 19, was on the floor for just 11:30 in the setback, the second-fewest minutes he has played this season. Miami has been outscored by 10 points per 100 possessions with the 7-footer on the court, the worst net rating among regular rotation players, according to the Miami Herald.
“You have to trust the coach and the decisions that he comes up with,” Ware told reporters, adding that he must “be ready when your name is called.”
Veteran center Bam Adebayo defended the rookie’s upside. “We’re not going to give up on him. We know how great he can be. He moves the needle for this team,” Adebayo said.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra blamed the defensive slide on effort, insisting the club is “far better defensively” than it showed in Los Angeles. The defeat was Miami’s second straight on the road ahead of Monday night’s game against the Clippers.
Mavericks
Dallas head coach Jason Kidd suggested guard Kyrie Irving (right foot sprain) might return sooner than first expected, though NBA insider Marc Stein reported the recovery timeline remains “fluid.”
Stein also noted that Lakers forward Anthony Davis performed a full pre-game workout Saturday in Mexico City despite being sidelined by a low-grade left calf strain. Davis is scheduled for reevaluation Tuesday when Los Angeles returns home.
Trail Blazers
Portland guard Blake Wesley sustained a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and is out indefinitely, the team announced Monday. A recovery schedule will be set after further evaluation.
Wesley, 24, joined Portland on a one-year contract in July and had appeared in all six games, averaging career bests of 6.0 points and 3.2 assists in 16.3 minutes. His injury compounds a backcourt already missing rookie Scoot Henderson (hamstring tear).
With Wesley sidelined, undrafted rookie Caleb Love—who has logged two appearances at 5.0 points in 9.5 minutes—could see an expanded role. Portland is also without forward Damian Lillard, who is sitting out the season while rehabbing a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Source: Hoops Wire
