Heat’s Herro returns hot but wants more, ‘still got a long way to go’

MIAMI — The most heartening aspect of Tyler Herro’s return might not have been the 24 points on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks, the nine consecutive shots made during one stretch, the game-winning 10-foot floater in the final seconds.

Each of those aspects were impressive in the season debut of the seventh-year Heat guard, after the long road back from September ankle surgery.

No, the most encouraging aspect might have come afterward, as Herro spoke of the pathway to the Heat’s fifth consecutive victory . . . and the runway for even more from himself.

“I still got a long way to go,” Herro said, ahead of the Heat turning their attention to Wednesday night’s visit by the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup game. “I still got to rehab, recovery.

“I easily could have probably waited another two weeks to come back. But I’m healthy enough to be out there and I want to be out there, so that was the most important to me.”

Already, with strides made.

Monday night, the 2025 first-time All-Star missed his first four shots and then made the next nine field-goal attempts, finishing 12 for 18 from the field.

With his 13th point, he became the sixth player to reach 7,000 career Heat points. Next on the Heat all-time scoring list is LeBron James, fifth with 7,919 points, with Dwyane Wade the franchise leader with 21,556.

But at the moment, it’s all about the moment, one Herro said, that took a village to produce.

“I just want to thank everyone who helped me with my recovery and my rehab in getting back,” he said, before going 29:23 in his return. “It was nine, 10 weeks or so. It went by fast. So appreciate everyone, my coaches, my teammates, everyone who’s allowed me to just come back into the lineup.”

With the Heat dealing with ailments to Norm Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic, Herro’s return delivered life to the Heat’s third game in four nights, as the Heat completed a back-to-back sweep that opened with Sunday’s road victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Just his voice, his presence, he’s always got a smile, he’s just great to have, not just on the floor, but in the locker room, as well,” forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. said. “Really just happy to have him back, happy to see him have a night like that, fit right in, like he never left.”

But he did leave, and still has yet to play a game with Powell, the Heat’s prime offseason addition. So the acclimation will be ongoing.

“It’s going to be a process. We’ve already played about 20 games,” Herro said, with the Heat taking a 12-6 record into Wednesday night’s second game of this four-game homestand. “I’ve missed almost all of ’em. So it’s just being acclimated into the starting five. And I’ve seen how well Norm and Wiggs and everyone is playing off each other. Just trying to come in and make the right play.”

The play of choice for Herro on Monday night was his lane floater.

And even that was an adjustment, with the Heat moving to a new offense this season that has virtually eliminated Herro’s preferred pick-and-rolls.

“A couple of times, I was ready to call Kel’el up,” Herro said of center Kel’el Ware, “but there’s no pick-and-rolls. But just being conscious of it, I think as the season goes on, we’re going to have to mix in a couple of pick-and-rolls here and there.”

Related Articles

• ASK IRA: Are the stars aligning for the Heat with so much from so many?

• Winderman’s view: Youthful exuberance for a Heat on a night when needed vs. Dallas

• Tyler Herro steps up in return with 24 points, winning basket as Heat down Mavs 106-102 for fifth straight win

• Tyler Herro back in Heat mix , but Powell now sidelined along with Wiggins, Jovic

• Erik Spoelstra mastering the finger wag? Heat coach’s challenges up this season

The next step, coach Erik Spoelstra said, is Herro mixing in more 3-pointers, closing 0 for 2 Monday night from beyond the arc.

“He’s great with the decisions on the catch, playing out of closeouts,” Spoelstra said. “Just wait until he gets comfortable shooting the catch three, and playing off the catch that way.

“It won’t take long for everybody to get into rhythm.”

Monday night, Herro led the Heat in scoring. But the goal Wednesday night will be simply to do what he did against the Mavericks, to be part of a mix that is producing something special and unexpected at the start of this season.

“Right, it’s like I’ll have two points on Wednesday,” Herro said of doing what it takes to continue the roll. “I just want to come out here and compete and play hard and win. Offense, everyone knows I can score. I’m just trying to win.”