Andrew Wiggins providing Heat the comfort of another contributing No. 22; Adebayo numerically thriving

MILWAUKEE There was a familiarity in the moment.With the game in the balance on Friday night, No.

22 was doing all the right things, making all the winning plays for the Miami Heat in the 120-111 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.No, not Jimmy Butler.

And, no, Andrew Wiggins certainly does not need the comparative pressures at this early juncture of his Heat career.But as the primary player acquired from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Butler at the Feb.

6 NBA trading deadline, the comparisons beyond numerical proved apt, with Wiggins closing with 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals and the 3 of 3 from the line with 45.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that closed out the regulation scoring.Every game, just keep getting more and more situated and building that chemistry up with the guys, said Wiggins, now three games into his Heat career.

We have a special squad here.

We can do something special.With teammates appreciating a special player has been added.Were all rooting for Wiggs, man, said guard Tyler Herro, who led the Heat with 28 points in the Friday victory that snapped a four-game losing streak.

Great guy, we love him in here.

Were super happy to have him.

Hes just going to continue to get more comfortable with everything were doing.Were trying to feed as much life and as much confidence into him as possible.

Were really happy for him.Related ArticlesMiami Heat | Ira Winderman: Roster moves still to come for Heat? Personnel calendar creates openingsMiami Heat | ASK IRA: Does Heats Tyler Herro need some help to lessen his playmaking load?Miami Heat | Windermans view: Not easy in Toronto, but is anything else expected of Heat at this stage?Miami Heat | Heat get first win in post-Butler era in 120-111 overtime escape in TorontoMiami Heat | Heats Mitchell returns to Toronto with no malice, Raptors appreciation; Adebayo rethinking DPOY?Coach Erik Spoelstra stressed coming out of the All-Star break that getting Wiggins up to speed and into a Heat comfort zone was paramount, with Friday night a significant stride in that direction.We were all just really happy for him, Spoelstra said, with the Heat moving on to Sundays game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the second stop of the three-game trip that concludes Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks.

Were excited.

Now were able to see a little bit of what this can look like.

Defensively, I thought we were pretty good all the way through.

And then offensively, even though we didnt put up a lot of points in that fourth quarter, there was more intention and well get better with that.

Now that theres more clarity, theres role clarity, theres role definition, guys will get more comfortable and confident.Adebayos nightFriday was a milestone night for Heat big man Bam Adebayo, whose 19 points and 12 rebounds gave him his 221st career double-double, tying initial Heat 1988 draft pick Rony Seikaly for the franchise record.Adebayo is one of only three players over the Heats 37 seasons with at least 200, with Alonzo Mourning at 205.Like I said, man, during my career, I wanted to be top three, top two, even one when I retire, Adebayo said of most categories on the Heat all-time lists.

So its good to tie.

Obviously, I got to pass you at some point, Seikaly.

Im sorry you got to be second.Adebayo also proved critical as a closer, with six of the Heats 13 overtime points.Adebayo has scored 32 overtime points this season, with no teammate with more than the eight apiece of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson.At the start of the overtime, Tyler was playmaking and giving it to Bam, Spoelstra said.

Those were not like the easiest shots, either.

Taking it on the catch, theyre rotating the third guy, and he was able to put a couple buckets in.Another strideFriday nights victory was the 886th combined regular-season and playoff victory for Spoelstra, moving him past Red Auerbach (Boston Celtics) and into third place on the NBA all-time list for combined wins with a single team.Next on the list is Jerry Sloan (Utah Jazz) at 1,221 such wins, followed by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs), who holds the record at 1,582..

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