- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Borrego Springs Today
By the People, for the People
Heat's Kel'el Ware Struggles in Final Play Against Rockets
Rookie center fails to box out on game-deciding putback in loss to Houston
Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:05am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In the Miami Heat's recent loss to the Houston Rockets, rookie center Kel'el Ware was put in the game for the final defensive possession but was unable to secure the crucial rebound, leading to the Rockets' game-winning putback. Ware had struggled earlier in the game, making his late-game insertion a risky move by the Heat coaching staff.
Why it matters
Ware's inability to make an impact on the final play highlights the growing pains the young center is experiencing as he adjusts to the NBA game. The Heat are counting on Ware to develop into a key contributor, and this moment of truth could be a learning experience that shapes his future role with the team.
The details
With the game tied and the Rockets taking the final shot, the Heat inserted the 7-foot Ware to help defend against Alperen Şengün and secure the rebound. While Ware did a decent job keeping Şengün away from the basket, he failed to get a hand on the ball as Amen Thompson swooped in for the game-winning putback. Ware had struggled earlier in the game, leading to limited playing time, and his inability to make a play on the final possession left the Heat vulnerable.
- The Heat lost to the Rockets on March 21, 2026.
The players
Kel'el Ware
A rookie center for the Miami Heat who was inserted into the game for the final defensive possession but failed to secure the crucial rebound.
Alperen Şengün
The Rockets' young center who Ware was tasked with defending on the final play.
Amen Thompson
The Rockets player who scored the game-winning putback over Ware.
Norman Powell
The Heat guard who has missed several games this season due to injury, raising questions about his long-term future with the team.
Tyler Herro
The Heat guard who has been out, leading to increased playing time for Norman Powell earlier in the season.
What they’re saying
“Kel'el Ware did get solid position against Şengün, keeping him positioned away from the rebound. But with the Heat (correctly) throwing the kitchen sink at Kevin Durant, it left open considerable real estate for Thompson.”
— Ira Winderman, Columnist
“What the Heat needed there was for Kel'el to simply get a hand or even a finger on the ball.”
— Ira Winderman, Columnist
What’s next
The Heat will look to Kel'el Ware to learn from this experience and improve his defensive positioning and rebounding as he continues to adjust to the NBA game.
The takeaway
Kel'el Ware's struggles on the final play against the Rockets highlight the growing pains the young center is experiencing, but also the importance of his development to the Heat's long-term success. The team will need Ware to make strides in order to become a reliable contributor.
