Winderman’s view: Heat 121, Timberwolves 112

Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 121-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at AmericanAirlines Arena:

— Perhaps a note of thanks to the Bulls?

— Yes, they beat the Heat last week.

— But they provided payback by defeating the Celtics on Friday night.

— Putting the Heat in a better-than-expected position going into Sunday’s first of two games in Boston.

— Basically, this was as whole as the Heat have been this season,

— Jimmy Butler was back, and back in the starting lineup.

— Tyler Herro was back, and back as a reserve.

— That kept Kendrick Nunn in the starting lineup.

— Along with Butler, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Trevor Ariza.

— With Victor Oladipo still out, this basically is who the Heat will be going forward.

— Oladipo would be a bonus.

— But no longer one expected.

— As if he never was here.

— The good news is the rotation now is far more balanced.

— With Herro and Goran Dragic offering scoring in reserve.

— Dewayne Dedmon offering rebounding in reserve.

— And Andre Iguodala there to stabilize that second unit.

— Anyone else will be out of necessity.

— But likely not out of design.

— As Precious Achiuwa, Nemanja Bjelica, KZ Okpala, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent looked on.

— And, of course, Udonis Haslem.

— Now with only one remaining home game for Haslem to make his 2020-21 home debut.

— With Friday’s appearance, Ariza passed P.J. Brown for 80th place on the NBA’s all-time regular-season games list and tied Mark West for 79th, at 1,090.

— Once again an opening-seconds Robinson foul, this one 24 seconds in.

— It would be a pattern, with Robinson called for his fourth foul with 6:51 left in the third period.

— There were three fouls on 3-point shots within the first 3:04, two by the Heat.

—That pattern would continue throughout the game.

— Dragic again played as the Heat’s sixth man.

— Dragic entered 35 points from 12,000 for his career.

— With the appearance, Dragic tied Eddie Jones for 10th place on the Heat all-time regular-season games list, at 387.

— Dedmon followed Dragic off the Heat bench, when Adebayo was called for his second foul.

— Adebayo exited his first eight-minute stint without a point and with one rebound.

— He had just one point and two first-half rebounds.

— But he later came up big with 10 third-quarter points.

— Robinson was called for his second foul, with 3:25 left in the opening period, with Herro entering with the Heat down 11.

— Iguodala played as the Heat’s fourth reserve.

— Iguodala’s second assist pushed him past Joe Johnson for 67th on the NBA all-time list.

— With his third rebound, Adebayo moved past P.J. Brown and into 10th place on the Heat’s all-time rebound list.

— Nunn’s second 3-point attempt moved him past Antoine Walker for 22nd on the Heat’s all-time list.

— Robinson made it 43 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer. He holds the franchise record of 57, set last season.

— Adebayo extended his career-best streak to 52 consecutive games scoring in double figures.

— Soon-to-be Timberwolves part owner Alex Rodriguez sat courtside.