Kyle Lowry, the quarterback that the Heat lacked

Thirty-seven years old, and all his teeth! Kyle Lowry will celebrate his birthday in top form tonight on the occasion of the reception of the Nets, in a meeting that may be decisive for a direct qualification in the playoffs. Replaced off the bench since his return two weeks ago, the veteran point guard quickly got back in tune and the Heat went on to win again.

His five weeks of absence due to knee pain could raise fears of a delicate return. That was not the case at all. From his first game, lost in overtime in Orlando, he had finished very well (12 points, 4 assists), and he has been performing well since, with between 20 and 25 minutes of playing time.

“He’s moving a lot better compared to what he was doing before. He fought all this time, you have to respect his toughness and his competitive spirit., underlined his coach, Erik Spoelstra. “This league is so competitive, with world-class athletes, speed…you want to be able to move like you used to. This month of rehabilitation really allowed him to get back in shape, and it paid off. For the playing time he’s been given so far, he’s been fantastic. We will continue to evaluate it before deciding to take the next step.

Kyle the Chameleon

Kyle Lowry took advantage of the arrival of the Knicks on Wednesday night in a “double count” match for the race to the top 6 to release his best performance since his return. In a playoff-type game, he brought his stone to the building with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in 24 minutes for a 127-120 victory for Floridians.

In his last five games, he has averaged 10 points on 57.9% 3-point success, 3.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 25 minutes of playing time. Even in a new role, he was able to adapt quickly and remain efficient to contribute to the collective effort.

“He’s Kyle Lowry, and he’s always been. No matter what role you ask him to play, whether it’s in the major five or off the bench, he’s going to get the win.”, dropped Jimmy Butler. “He’s always going to play the right way, get everyone to touch the ball. He will communicate at a high level. It’s great that he’s back because he’s our quarterback, he makes sure we can win at the end of the game.

Promising for the playoffs

For Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry also brings serenity to the team as a veteran point guard. The player has more than 100 playoff games to his credit, and that’s also why Miami recruited him. Still, his experience, creativity and accuracy remain valuable elements for the Heat.

“Just setting us up, slowing us down, making sure there’s cohesion in our threats, and he’s also talking a lot right now. He is vital for our team.”said the pivot of Miami. “The end of the year is coming. He had time to rest. I feel like he’s fresh, so it’s good to have a fresh Kyle on the pitch.”

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo know the best gift they can give their teammate: a win tonight against Brooklyn, currently seventh in the East.