HOT NEWS: With Adebayo out, the Heat were defenseless in a 144-129 loss to the Pacers.

MIAMI — On Saturday night, the Miami Heat presented a case for Bam Adebayo to be named Defensive Player of the Year. During his absence. In a defenseless struggle.

The Heat were unable to contain an Indiana Pacers attack that was missing scoring and assist leader Tyrese Haliburton, falling 144-129 at Kaseya Center to end a 1-2 homestand and drop to 11-9 at the halfway point of the season.

With Adebayo out due to a nagging hip bruise, the Heat appeared to offer a direct path to the rim, with the Pacers content to take what was given.

The Heat lost despite Jimmy Butler’s 33 points, Caleb Martin’s 18, Duncan Robinson’s 17, Josh Richardson’s 16, and Orlando Robinson’s 16. Because it wasn’t about how much the Heat could earn.

— 2. Alternate reality: With Adebayo out due to a hip injury, Orlando Robinson was granted his second career NBA start, replacing Thomas Bryant. With 9:13 remaining in the first quarter, starting power forward Haywood Highsmith exited for the locker room with a back spasm, and was replaced by Martin. Martin also took Highsmith’s position in the second half.

Highsmith injured his lower back in a hard fall the previous Saturday in Brooklyn, forcing him to miss the team’s loss to the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

To begin the second period, the Heat’s rotation was scrambled to the point of a lineup consisting of Orlando Robinson, Duncan Robinson, Jamal Cain, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Richardson. — 3. Taking the third option: Butler raised his game in the third period for the second time in a row, scoring 11 points and dishing out three assists. The Pacers were able to stay pace this time, outscoring the Heat 41-30 in the final 12 minutes.