Winderman’s view: Do Heat have to consider some work on roster’s edges?

Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 121-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers:

– The plan never was to cast Jamal Cain or RJ Hampton as difference makers.

– Or even rotation players.

– With all due respect, if the Heat are to look like the Heat, neither would be in the rotation mix.

– Which is why both are on two-way contracts.

– But Hampton started Saturday night’s loss in Utah, with Cain starting this one.

– And now the question becomes with an older, injury-riddled roster, whether there has to be more on the fringe in terms of NBA experience.

– No, your 13th and 15th men shouldn’t have to matter.

– Should be developed.

– But there you have Jimmy Butler in the locker pregame nursing a foot injury, looking like someone who also might miss the final two games on this trip.

– With Caleb Martin equally uncertain about his ankle.

– And Josh Richardson trying to figure out his first career back issue.

– Cain for one game is one thing.

– And he was very good at the start of this trip against the Warriors.

– So, to a degree was Hampton.

– But if the reality is all these games without Butler, Martin, Richardson and now Haywood Highsmith, with his concussion, this game of chicken with the roster is a tenuous one.

– Especially on nights such as Monday, when there are no wings.

– The Heat’s wheel of lineups this time landed on Cain, who received his second start of the season, as coach Erik Spoelstra sought additional perimeter defense, with Butler, Martin, Highsmith and Richardson.

– The starting five was rounded out by Bam Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry.

– Jaquez received a loud ovation during introduction on the Clippers’ Mexican Heritage Night.

– Lowry’s sixth point was the 16,000th of his career.

– Herro’s second 3-pointer moved him past Mario Chalmers for fifth place on the Heat’s all-time list.

– The Clippers opened with Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann and James Harden.

– As would be expected, Spoelstra spoke pregame of having enough.

– “There’s a lot of moving parts,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck right now.”

– Spoelstra stressed that the current absences do not appear long term.

– “Our injuries have been, in my mind minor,” he said, “where guys haven’t been out for extended periods of time. We have a lot of quality depth on our team.”

– Spoelstra said Butler’s foot injury is a new ailment, not the exacerbation of a previous issue.

– “He was driving to his right and it was one of those,” he said of a play in Saturday night’s loss in Utah. “We’ll just continue to treat him.”

– Butler declined comment pregame.

– While Hightsmith’s absence was changed Monday from jaw contusion to concussion, Spoelstra said it was monitored throughout.

– “It was constantly observed,” Spoelstra said, “so we’ll just take it from here.”

– Highsmith returned Monday to Miami.

– With limited wing options, the Heat went zone early.

– Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson entered together as the Heat’s first two reserves.

– Hampton then made it eight deep.

– With Cole Swider the only remaining wing.

– Later, seldom-used center Thomas Bryant midway through the second period made it nine deep for the Heat.

– That left Swider, Orlando Robinson and Jovic as the lone Heat player yet to see action.

– Saturday’s Heat loss to the Jazz was one that continued to sting.

– “Sometimes you have to go through pain,” Spoelstra said. “Sometimes you have to go through tough losses.”

– He added, “You can still win while you’re getting that all in order.”

– Spoelstra went in with respect for the work Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has accomplished on the defensive side of the ball.

– “Yeah, they’re a good team. We understand that. We have to play well on the road, and we’re capable of doing it,” he said. “We have to play much better than we did the other night. I’m looking forward to just getting after it.”

– The game marked the ninth time the Heat played on New Year’s Day, entering 6-2 in Jan 1 games. The Heat last played on New Year’s Day 2021.

– The game opened a challenging January, with the Heat playing 10 teams that made the playoffs last season, their high for any month this season.

– Among those in attendance was Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker.