Kyle Lowry's winning mentality on full display during Heat's hot start

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Kyle Lowry (Miami Heat)

Kyle Lowry continues to show why he could lay claim to being the best move of the off-season, propelling the Miami Heat to their sixth win from their past seven games. 

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After a slow start to the season, Lowry has been instrumental in leading the Heat's recent run of wins, orchestrating the offence, creating wide-open looks for the likes of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, while doing what he does best, making winning plays. 

The timely steals, deflections, rebounds and momentum-changing/halting buckets, Lowry's veteran presence is proving to be the perfect complement to a talented roster who were just missing a quarterback to make it all go. 

It's no coincidence the Heat are just one of two teams — along with the Utah Jazz — to have a top 5 offence and defence to start the season.

Kyle Lowry 2021-22

Kyle Lowry PTS REB AST FG% 3P%
First 3 games 6.75 3.0 7.0 27.0 14.2% (3-21)
Last 5 games 13.5 7.0 7.4 50.0 53.5% (15-28)

Lowry, who was questionable to even play in tonight's game with a left ankle sprain, was the most influential player on the floor in their toughest test of the season so far, against the Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz.

He turned in his best performance of the season, recording his 19th career triple-double and his first in a Miami Heat uniform in their 118-115 home win.

At 35 years old, Lowry is the fourth oldest player to ever have a triple-double, behind Karl Malone, John Stockton and LeBron James — who has had five such games

"Kyle really set the tone with the triple-double, just shows that he can impact the game in a slot of different ways," Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said post-game

He finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on 8-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from the 3-point line.

Against a Jazz team, who is the second-best rebounding team in the league, behind the Heat, Lowry recorded the most boards in the game, outrebounding Jazz center Rudy Gobert (8) and hauling in just as many offensive rebounds as him (2).

"It just shows you how impactful he is and obviously how much trust he has through the entire team and the staff," Heat guard Caleb Martin added.

"He's a floor general so he gets things going and he gets the flow going exactly how we need it."

The Heat are now 3-0 against Western Conference opponents beating the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks, before hitting the road for a 5-game West Coast swing with games against the Nuggets, Lakers, Clippers, Jazz and Thunder coming up.

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Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.