Kyle Lowry has sat the last two fourth quarters. What does it mean?
Jan 28, 2023 - 4:49 PMEarlier this week, I wrote about Kyle Lowry’s clutch performance against the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring nine straight fourth-quarter points. It was a nice jolt to turn an otherwise pedestrian Lowry game into something notable.
But in the Miami Heat’s subsequent two wins to take them to a season-best six games above .500 — against a depleted Boston Celtics team and the Orlando Magic last night — Lowry has sat the entire fourth quarter both times.
The easy answer is that Lowry didn’t score much in either game. After going 1-for-7 against Boston, Lowry scored just six points last night. And Gabe Vincent made two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter against the Magic, igniting a Heat run. But Vincent didn’t play for the entire fourth period. Tyler Herro subbed in for him with 3:55 left to go.
Both members of the Heat’s starting backcourt have struggled offensively these last two games. After shooting 4-of-19 against the Celtics — yes, he made a clutch 3 — Herro wasn’t much better last night against Orlando. He shot 4-of-12. Despite all that, Spoelstra has given Herro fourth-quarter minutes both games — not Lowry.
Has Erik Spoelstra benched Lowry as a punishment for his sub-par play? Is it reflective of having Vincent, who has recently played like a quality backup point guard, available since his return from injury a month ago? Does it signal a trade for Lowry is in the works?
I wouldn’t bet on a Lowry trade by the Feb. 9 deadline. But Spoelstra not playing a $28 million player fourth-quarter minutes doesn’t bode well for Lowry’s future in Miami.
Be the first!
Related News
- Shaquille O’Neal To Be First To Have Jersey Retired by Magic Jan 4
- LeBron James Has Been At His Best for Many Birthdays Dec 29
- Jimmy Butler Is The NBA's Most Interesting Man Oct 11
- Portland Has High Demands for Miami in Damian Lillard Trade Sep 19
- 2023 NBA Summer League Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (7/5) Jul 5
- 2023 NBA Summer League Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (7/3) Jul 3
- Tyler Herro Distances Himself From Miami Heat, Removes Them From His Twitter Profile Jul 2
- D’Angelo Russell Agrees to 2-Year, $37M Contract With Los Angeles Lakers Jul 1
- NBA Trade Deadline Rumors: Heat Set Sights On Bradley Beal, Pelicans Interested in Scoot Henderson Jun 14
- NBA Finals First Basket Scorer Picks & Predictions: Monday (Nuggets vs. Heat) Jun 12
- NBA Best Bets Odds, Picks, & Predictions: Monday, June 12th (2023) Jun 12
- Daily Juice Podcast: NBA Finals, College Baseball World Series & MLB Picks for Monday (6/12) Jun 12