Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) drives the ball as Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) defends in the second half of their NBA game at Kaseya Center on Oct. 28, 2025, in Miami. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
The timing of the Miami Heat’s schedule allowed third-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. to enjoy a special moment in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Jaquez, who grew up in the Los Angeles area and went to college at UCLA, was able to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Game 7 World Series-clinching road victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night with family and friends around other Dodgers fans.
With the Heat in Los Angeles for a two-game set that began with Sunday night’s 130-120 loss to the Lakers and ends Monday night against the Clippers, Jaquez watched Saturday’s title-clinching win with loved ones at a Los Angeles restaurant.
January 15, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie (12) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“It was amazing, No. 1,” Jaquez said. “One, I wish they would have won it here. But, I’m just happy that I got to experience it. I was watching it with my family, and we were at a nice restaurant. The whole restaurant was all enjoying the game together, and it was great. Great experience.”
Jaquez, who calls himself a lifelong Dodgers fan, is also a lifelong baseball fan. He grew up playing baseball and basketball until focusing solely on basketball after high school.
“Watching it really made me miss baseball. It was an amazing game,” Jaquez said of the Dodgers’ comeback Game 7 win in Toronto. “Shout out to all the guys on the team, man. It was just a relentless, relentless victory. Just happy to watch, man, as a fan.”
Jaquez, 24, admits he doesn’t watch every Dodgers game during the long baseball season. But he makes sure to “lock back in” when the playoffs start.
“I would say I’ve been a fan my entire life,” said Jaquez, who totaled a season-high 31 points in Sunday’s defeat for the second-highest single-game scoring total of his NBA career. “Especially when big games happen, the playoffs, I try to lock back in and really pay attention. But, especially if they’re in the World Series, you have to lock in for those.”
With the Dodgers winning two straight World Series titles, they are the first back-to-back baseball champions since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000.
For the Los Angeles area, this moment is deeper than just winning another World Series title. It’s a positive time for a community that endured devastating wildfires in January.
“It’s been great for people to just come together, and everybody to come together to support this group and this team,” Jaquez said. “It’s special. Obviously Los Angeles has been through a lot. The list goes on with things that L.A. has been through lately. And for them to win, just for the city and for everybody, it’s great. It means a lot to us L.A. fans.”
Jaquez is also in Los Angeles for the Dodgers’ championship parade on Monday afternoon, but he won’t be able to attend the celebration because he has a game to play Monday night against the Clippers.
“I probably won’t have time,” Jaquez said when asked Sunday whether he planned to go to the Dodgers’ parade. “But I really do want to go. I wish I could be there. But just to be able to watch it here with my family and with everybody in the restaurant watching the game, that was good enough for me.”
INJURY REPORT
After missing three straight games with a right groin strain, the Heat listed starting guard Norman Powell as questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Clippers.
Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) looks during an NBA preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center on October 6, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
If Powell can play on Monday, it would mark his first game against his former team since the Clippers traded him to the Heat in early July as part of a three-team trade.
The Heat has already ruled out Vlad Goldin (G League), Tyler Herro (left ankle surgery), Kasparas Jakucionis (right groin strain) and Terry Rozier (not with team) for Monday’s contest.
The Clippers will only be without Jordan Miller (left hamstring strain) and Kobe Sanders (right knee sprain) against the Heat.