Winderman’s view: With Tyler Herro down, who lifts Heat? (Wednesday, it was by committee)

Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 108-102 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies:

– Because Tyler Herro can’t have nice things?

– No, not the same as going down in the first half of the first game of the playoffs.

– But never had Herro been in such a groove.

– The Heat offense practically built off his offensive creation.

– And now this ankle injury.

– For all of Erik Spoelstra’s confidence regarding depth, the Heat don’t have anything that resembles Herro.

– It well could be Josh Richardson as the next man up.

– And while Caleb Martin eventually could help, it’s not as if he is a shot creator.

– As it is, Dru Smith had to step in on Wednesday night.

– After falling out of the rotation.

– In the short term, it could mean Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry having to do more.

– And it could mean expediting Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s growth curve.

– But it won’t be just one player, because the Heat don’t have a facsimile.

– With Duncan Robinson starting the second half in place of Herro, don’t be surprised if the Heat recall Cole Swider from the G League.

– Shooting will be needed.

– Particularly with Richardson struggling.

– The Heat for the third consecutive game opened with Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Butler, Lowry and Herro.

– With the Grizzlies starting both Bismack Biyombo and Jaren Jackson Jr., it was a night an argument could have been made for going big with Kevin Love. But the Heat did not change things after consecutive wins.

– Inactive for the Heat were Martin, Nikola Jovic, Jamal Cain, Cole Swider and R.J. Hampton, with the latter two on G League assignment.

– The Grizzlies were shorthanded and then some, without Steven Adams (knee PCL sprain), Brandon Clarke (Achilles tendon repair), John Konchar ( hip strain), Ja Morant (NBA suspension), Derrick Rose (knee injury recovery) and Xavier Tillman Sr. ( knee soreness).

– But there was Marcus Smart.

– Although odd seeing Smart without the green Celtics hair.

– Duncan Robinson again played as Heat sixth man.

– Thomas Bryant followed.

– And then Richardson.

– With Jaquez Jr. making it nine deep.

– And, out of necessity, Smith making it 10 deep.

– That left Love and Orlando Robinson as the only Heat players not to see action to that point.

– Spoelstra saved Butler a foul with a successful challenge late in the second period.

– Butler responded by giving Spoelstra a basket on the ensuing possession.

– Having frequently used the term “skirmishes” during the Big Three era with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Spoelstra found himself back on that theme Wednesday.

– Spoelstra said it all was part of a focus on “the ability to sustain.”

– “You have to try to win skirmishes,” he said. “If the other team is winning a skirmish, you have to try to limit how big that skirmish can be, that we’re not giving up double-digit runs to zero.”

– Spoelstra said it also is a time the Heat seize upon this road-intensive portion of the schedule.

– “These are moments during the season where you can start to put things together and go to a different level,” he said.

– He added, “All we’re focusing on is continuing to get our team to a higher level. I think a really well-played, competitive game on the road speeds up that process, and our guys are aware of that.”