For the fourth time in the last five games, Patty Mills played virtually the entire fourth quarter as Blazers coach Nate McMillan continued a trend of playing his improving high-energy second-year point guard over the established veteran Andre Miller.
"Patty's been doing some good things ... knocking down shots for us," McMillan said after the game, explaining why Mills played all but 48 seconds in the fourth quarter against the Heat. "We've stuck with that lineup before when things are going well."
Indeed. Mills' late minutes Sunday -- he played 14:06 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, while Miller played just 3:10 -- continued a trend that started at the turn of the new year. In the five games the Blazers have played in 2011, Mills has played 54:07 in the fourth quarter and overtime, while Miller has played 16:46.
Miller did not play in the fourth quarter during a Jan. 2 win over Houston at the Rose Garden and he played just one second in the fourth quarter during a road win over Houston on Jan. 5. Just once in the last five games has Miller played more than five minutes in the fourth.
Miller revealed a mix of displeasure and acceptance Sunday night after the game. He praised Mills' play against the Heat and during the recent stretch and said he was "cool" with the situation. However, Miller also said he wanted to play more in crunch time and said he was offered no explanation for his limited playing time Sunday night.
"Man, there's no explanation for nothing around here," Miller said. "I can't play the whole fourth quarter the whole season. (But) ... that was a good game, so I'm not going to dwell on me."