Erik Spoelstra beams over Nikola Jovic after the win against the Pacers

MIAMI – When you look Miami Heat win over Indiana Pacers Saturday night, 142-116, there were plenty of contributions as the team was without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Hero. As Young striker Nikola Jovic is back after injury in Friday’s win against the Atlanta Hawks, his impact was felt despite his shooting struggles, but Saturday was a slightly different story for the 22-year-old.

There’s no denying Jovic’s impact, but this time he provided the offensive boost off the bench as he scored 19 points on seven-of-14 shooting from the field, three-of-eight from deep, along with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Also recording two steals, Jovic also led Miami in plus/minus with a +35 on the floor, showing the positive impact he had on the team, an aspect that the head coach Erik Spoelstra knew he was there all along.

“We felt this all along,” Spoelstra said. “You know, it’s been an uneven start to the season for whatever. It doesn’t matter, we’re here, you know. And you know, we know how important he can be and how different we can look, you know, when he plays that style of basketball, you know, he definitely has to clean up some of the work, the turnovers.”

“He’s got to work on it, clean it up,” Spoelstra continued. “But I want him to be aggressive, especially in transition. That brings us to the second, you know, he and Jamie, like I said, put their foot on the gas. And I want him, you know, to be able to do some things like we saw in that fourth quarter.”

Erik Spoelstra on another impressive outing from Nikola Jovic in what came from an uneven start:

“We’ve felt this all along that it’s been an uneven start for whatever reason, but it doesn’t matter. We’re here. We know how important he can be…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/iKSSk3s0tTK

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 28, 2025

Warmth Jaime Jaquez Jr. according to the advice given to Nikola Jović

It’s been a whirlwind season for the 2022 first-round pick as they’ve had a slow start to the season after receiving a $62.4 million contract extension, Jovic suffered a gruesome elbow injury for the Heat. Having missed the last four games before Friday’s win against the Atlanta Hawks with what was listed as an “elbow contusion/tear,” Jovic’s body language has been different in the last two games, affecting the team’s system.

For Jaime Jaquez Jr. he would reveal the advice he gave to Jovic, stressing how he is “So much to grow and learn.”

“I think people forget how young he is,” Jaquez said after scoring 28 points in the win over Indiana. “He’s still got a lot to grow and learn. And he’s been through so many ups, so many downs, and we’ve got his back through it all. And just for him to come out tonight, it just shows how much of a talent he is and how much he can really impact the game.”

“It brings a whole new dynamic to our team that really fits so well with us and the way this team wants to play, and I think that plays to his advantage,” Jacquez continued. “And something I told him, ‘Man, let it go, man, nobody cares. Just shoot the ball.’ And he’s a great shooter. I shoot with him every day. I know this guy can shoot, so I just tell him, ‘Let them fly.’ And once he lets it fly and lets everything else go, he’s an incredible player.”

Jaime Jaquez Jr. about what he saw from Nikola Jovic in the last two games.

“I think people forget how young he still is…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/kEI4CR1ZNG

— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 28, 2025

Jovic is looking to continue his great performances as his next opportunity comes on Monday night against fellow Serbian international Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.