Erik Spoelstra finds it hard to recognize his squad lacks. Even harder for the Miami Heat coach to admit his squad lacks defense.

With their wing defense weakened by ιnjury, the Heat could not have faced Paul Geroge, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Norman Powell on a worse night.

The Miami Heat lost their second straight game after four victories against the Los Angeles Clippers 121 at Crypto.Com Arena on Monday.

To make up for the absences of Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith, Caleb Martin, and Josh Richardson, the Heat played zone defense and lost to 3-pointers and the rim.

The Clippers shot.588 from the field, 14 of 29 from beyond the arc.

Even with 21 points and 15 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, 17 from Kevin Love, and 15 from Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. on their return to Los Angeles, the Heat lost.

Leonard scored 24, George 23, Powell 22, Harden 15, and Westbrook 8.

The Heat play the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.Com Arena on Wednesday before finishing their five-game journey on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

Five Degrees of Heat from Monday’s game:

1. Game flow: The Heat lead 35-23 following a 15-4 first-quarter outburst. The Clippers led 59-58 at halftime and 95-85 heading into the fourth.

Leonard’s 3-pointer gave the Clippers a 16-point lead with 8:41 to go, and the Heat were unable to comeback as Herro went 4 of 13 with six assists and six rebounds.

2. Another reshuffle: Making 19 starting lineups in 33 games for the Heat, including Jamal Cain’s second start of the season, who didn’t play until late in the third quarter of Saturday’s defeat in Utah.

Nikola Jovic and RJ Hampton, who began Saturday against the Jazz, were benched.

Jovic was replaced by Jaquez when Kyle Lowry returned from a head ιnjury and Hampton was bumped.

The Heat were missing Butler for the fourth time in five games due to a foot ιnjury and Highsmith due to a concussion in the final seconds Saturday night.

Martin (ankle) and Richardson (back) were out.

3. Pushing ahead: The Heat started Cain at power forward, leaving Adebayo alone for much of the game.

By the start of the third quarter, Adebayo had his sixth straight double-double, compensating for his inconsistent shooting by getting to the foul line and finishing 9 of 13 on free throws.

Love then played well off the bench in place of Adebayo, and the Heat struggled when Thomas Bryant replaced Adebayo at center in the second quarter.

Spoelstra played Adebayo and Love together because to a wing player shortage.

4. Celebratory (early) mode: Robinson was filming beforehand as Michigan was winning their overtime national-semifinal football game against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

After returning to the locker room, the former Wolverine scored 11 first-quarter points on 6 of 6 shooting from the line. He scored less after that.

Robinson and Hampton were the Heat’s sole backup wingmen when Jaquez entered the starting lineup and Martin and Richardson left.

5. Kawhi time: While the Heat are injured, the Clippers have no players out Monday.

Leonard returned after missing four games with a hip ιnjury.

Leonard played against the Heat on Monday night for the first game since Feb. 5, 2020, due to ιnjury.

“I just look at his record,” Spoelstra said of Leonard’s recent game tweaks. I don’t focus on changes. I believe he’s one of the league’s most successful regular-season players.”

Leonard shot 10/19 with six rebounds and five assists.