Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 119-103 NBA playoff victory over the Philadelphia 76ers:

– There will be a time when Gabe Vincent will go back to a supporting role.

– Possibly even supporting the supporting players.

– But what he has done in the void of Kyle Lowry cannot be overstated.

– He has been there as needed.

– Deferring when necessary.

– Defending as called upon.

– No, nowhere close to a household NBA name.

– But in many ways he has been the P.J. Tucker of the Heat’s backcourt.

– The small stuff as needed.

– Appreciating his place.

– The Heat 4-0 in these playoffs with Lowry sitting and Vincent starting.

– Which will make it interesting when Lowry returns.

– With Victor Oladipo now in the mix, can Erik Spoelstra go with three wings among his first four off the bench, when also factoring in Tyler Herro?

– As Spoelstra would say, a good problem to have.

— Oladipo was good, very good, Wednesday night.

– As for James Harden, does anyone actually enjoy watching him play other than, perhaps, his teammates and his team’s fans?

– Dribble, dribble, dribble, fake, dribble, dribble, dribble, all while desperately searching for a foul.

– And that is basketball how?

– With Lowry still out with his hamstring strain, Vincent again was the replacement starter.

– With Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, P.J. Tucker and Max Strus rounding out the first five.

– With the start, Butler tied Carlos Boozer for 90th on the NBA all-time playoff list and passed Danny Ainge for 91st.

– With his appearance, Adebayo tied P.J. Brown for 19th on the Heat all-time playoff list.

– The 76ers stayed with DeAndre Jordan as their starting center, flanking in the opening lineup again by Tobias Harris, Danny Green, Tyrese Maxey and Harden.

– Tyler Herro and Dewayne Dedmon again entered together as the Heats’ first two subs.

– With Strus forced to the bench with his second foul with 5:14 left in the opening period.

– Victor Oladipo followed as third off the Heat bench, on his 30th birthday.

– And then Caleb Martin.

– With Strus returning late in the first period, even with his two early fouls.

– As Duncan Robinson watched.

– Butler’s first assist moved him past Tayshaun Prince for 91st on the NBA all-time playoff list and tied him with Joe Johnson for 90th. He later also passed Eric Snow, Brian Shaw and Jason Terry.

– Butler’s first steal tied Chris Bosh for fourth on the Heat all-time playoff list.

– Butler’s first blocked shot tied Josh Richardson for 15th on the Heat all-time playoff list.

– Butler’s first free throw moved him past Byron Scott for 63rd on the NBA all-time playoff list.

– Butler’s first 3-pointer tied Dwyane Wade for 88th on the NBA all-time playoff list. His third tied James Jones for 87th.

– Butler’s first 3-pointer tied Tayshaun Prince and Fred VanVleet for 88th on the NBA all-time playoff list, passing Bradley Beal and Brent Barry.

– Butler’s third free-throw attempt moved him past Cliff Hagan for 70th on the NBA all-time playoff list.

– Tucker’s second 3-pointer tied Bryon Russell for 61st on the NBA all-time playoff list. His first tied Mookie Blaylock for 62nd. He passed Eddie Jones for 63rd with his first.

– Adebayo’s first steal tied Shane Battier and Goran Dragic for 12th on the Heat all-time playoff list.

– With Dedmon’s minutes down recently, particularly when the opposition goes to small ball, Spoelstra pregame addressed the veteran big man’s place in his mix.

– “It’s not like he hasn’t seen it before,” Spoelstra said, with 76ers coach Doc Rivers utilizing smaller lineups. “I’m sure they’re going to try to have some more space out there for guys to operate. We’ve seen that over the course of the season. Dewayne is very versatile. But he also gives us that size. So they have to deal with him on the other side.”

– Spoelstra added, “And then we also have some smaller lineups that we can go to, as well.”

– But when the 76ers went with Georges Niang at center, Spoelstra went with Tucker in the middle.

– The 76ers then took it a step further at the close of the first half, with Harris at center.

– Spoelstra also addressed the emergence of Maxey.

– “Speed is unique,” Spoelstra said. “It’s one thing to watch on film, and then go through it, and then experience it is different. And he’s just gained a lot of confidence. So his ability to get into the paint, break your defense down, it’s something we have to contain.”

– Spoelstra added his thoughts Wednesday on Herro on Tuesday being named winner of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.

– “I think Tyler is about the right things,” he said. “He has such an incredible work ethic. He’s ambitious. He is one of the young stars in the league. And he has been able to quiet all the noise and just sacrifice and do what we felt was best for the group, and it really translated to success and winning. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what Tyler is all about.”

– Rivers clapped as Herro received his award pregame.

– No 76ers players joined in.

– In addition to his team’s move to smaller ball, necessitated by Joel Embiid’s absence, Rivers also has moved to more zone defense.

– “With Miami they don’t get to run all their elbow action, as much,” he said. “They have to run more zone offense. So that’s why you do it.”

– Of the Heat’s physicality in Game 1, Rivers said going into Game 2, “For whatever reason, it caught us by surprise, almost, like we didn’t know it was coming. I don’t know why we wouldn’t know.”

– Of the rollercoaster of the playoffs, Rivers said, “The playoffs are a very emotional beast and the overreaction, not just outward, but even inward, happens all over the place. So your job is to keep your guys steady. Keep them understanding what they should do. Keep them understanding what’s good for our team.”

– Dwyane Wade and John Calipari were among those in attendance.

– And Edgerrin James, Rick Ross and DJ Khalid.

– Oh, and Chris Silva, too, among others.

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