Wembanyama, Spurs extend Heat losing streak to five in 136-111 rout

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Mar 23, 2026

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MIAMI – Whole, and still not wholly good enough.

With a fully healthy roster for only the sixth time this season, the Miami Heat still were made soberingly aware Monday night of the deficit against the league’s elite.

So make it five consecutive losses for Erik Spoelstra’s team with the 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Kaseya Center.

Even with Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. back from the injury list, there still was not enough against Victor Wembanyama and a legitimate championship contender that now has won 21 of its last 23.

While the defense continued to lack when needed most, it’s not as if there otherwise would have been an answer for 7-foot-5 Spurs freak of nature Wembanyama, who closed with 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots.

That challenge took a toll on Heat center Bam Adebayo, whose run of 20-point outings came to a close with 18 points.

Otherwise, for the Heat it was 21 points from Powell, 18 from Tyler Herro and simply not enough to draw from elsewhere on the roster.

Wembanyama was supported by 19 points from Stephon Castle, as solid contributions from the Spurs’ other recent lottery riches.

Five degrees of Heat from Monday night’s game:

— Game flow: The Spurs led 38-31 after the first quarter, outscoring the Heat 10-0 in the period on second-chance points.

The Heat then went down 18 early in the second period, standing with that deficit at 76-58 at halftime.

From there, the deficit reached 30 in a third quarter that ended with the Spurs up 108-81.

That effectively left it as a fourth quarter of nothing by mop-up time, with both benches emptied.

— All present: So make it a 3-3 record this season in games that all Heat players on standard contract (other than Terry Rozier, who is on NBA leave) were available.

With Powell, Wiggins and Jaquez back, Spoelstra opened with a lineup of Adebayo, Herro, Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell, now 3-3 with that lineup.

That had Powell playing off the bench for the third time in his last four appearances, his lone appearances as a reserve as a member of the Heat.

Wiggins closed with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, with Jaquez finishing with eight points.

— Boiling point: Spoelstra was called for his first technical foul of the season with 11:35 left in the second period and Heat down 38-31,

Spoelstra sprinted down the sideline after he and Powell believed Powell was fouled on the preceding possession, with referee Marc Davis then signaling the technical.

Spoelstra continued to express his dissatisfaction with Davis during the ensuing timeout, with Powell joining in that tempered discussion.

As a matter of perspective, Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff entered the week leading all coaches with 10 technical fouls, with 18 coaches with at least four and 27 head coaches with at least one.

— Streak ends: Pulled late in the third period, Adebayo saw his career-best streak of 20-point games end at 11.

He closed 5 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 10 3-pointers, Still it was the sixth time in the last seven games he has coveted multiple 3-pointers.

Despite playing major minutes over the past week, Adebayo at one point in the first half turned to Spoelstra seemingly displeased with being subbed out.

The reality is there wasn’t much in reserve in the middle, with it another struggle for Kel’el Ware.

— Wemby time: While the 3-point stroke wasn’t there on a night he shot 1 of 7 from beyond the arc, Wembanyama was 10 of 15 on his 2-points shots, adding four assists, needed for only 26 minutes.

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