MIAMI — The NBA’s misery meter typically is a matter of degree.

One on hand, in Monday night’s matchup at Kaseya Center you have the Miami Heat, who despite a 2-1 start to this four-game homestand have been so uneven in the three games that the concern is elevated.

On the other hand, the Heat’s opponent to close out the homestand is in a freefall of stunning measure, the Los Angeles Clippers, thought to be potential title contenders, with losses in 13 of their past 15, a skid that began with their Nov. 3 home loss to the Heat.

So, yes, a Heat team that needs to be better, but also with the foundation of the 13-7 record they will take into the night.

While the Clippers are coming apart, the Heat are somewhat only now coming together, with the return of guard Tyler Herro from preseason ankle surgery coinciding with the recent uneven run, the Heat — the scoring sensations of the of the NBA at the start of the season — only 20th in the NBA in offensive rating in their past three games.

Compounding that shakiness is opposing offenses again targeting Herro on the defensive end.

In Saturday night’s 138-135 loss to the East-leading Detroit Pistons, the Heat allowed .591 shooting from the field, including .423 on 3-pointers.

“You just want to see more minutes of the game when you’re playing closer to our identity,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

As for Herro, still a work in progress, despite impressive scoring totals, with 29, 32 and 24 points in his three games back.

“Yeah, I’m still working, but I work every day at my craft,” he said.

Guard Norman Powell said it all is a matter of an acclimation process, even as it is with forward Andrew Wiggins being back the past two games after missing three with a hip ailment. Wiggins led the Heat with 31 points Saturday night.

“I think just inserting another player, with Tyler being back, everybody healthy, I think everybody was a little off,” Powell said. “I think guys are just trying to figure out how to play off of one another now. Wiggs is back, too, he missed a couple of games, Tyler, too.

“All of us have great offensive talent, but we all got to figure out how to make the game easier for each other.”

With Jaime Jaquez Jr. on Saturday night missing his first game of the season, due to a groin strain, it meant a return to the mix after a one-game benching for fourth-year forward Nikola Jovic.

It did not go well, with Jovic with five turnovers in his 10:12.

“Look,” Spoelstra said, “he needs to get in better rhythm. He needs to put in some work. He’ll be just fine. But the more you put into it, and he was sidetracked a little bit with his (hip) injury, but it’s the attention to detail, it’s the work ethic, every single day, that has to be consistent and he’ll get there, he’ll get in better rhythm.”

Jaquez returned to practice, but forward Keshad Johnson was sidelined by illness. Jaquez said he is hopeful of a return Monday, that the groin issue first surfaced in Wednesday night’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Against the Pistons, the Heat found themselves against a desperate opponent, with Detroit entering on a two-game skid.

Against the Clippers, the desperation already appears to be at critical mass.

“It’s time to crawl out the hole,” said forward Kawhi Leonard, whose missed 3-pointer allowed the Heat to escape the Intuit Dome with the Nov. 3 victory over the Clippers.

At the moment, the Clippers appear at a loss.

“If we knew,” guard James Harden said of how to solve the slide, “it wouldn’t be happening.”

It was the Clippers decision to turn in a different direction that led to them gifting Powell in the offseason trade that came at the mere cost to the Heat of Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson.

Instead, the Clippers reshuffled with the additions of Bradley Beal, who now is out for the season with a hip injury, and John Collins, who has been uneven in his minutes.

“The last five years, I’ve been able to figure it out. But this year it’s been tough,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I’m just really pissed off more than frustrated because it happens every year and it’s just tough to try to continue getting through it.”

Robinson return

In his first-ever game against the Heat after his offseason trade to the Pistons, Duncan Robinson closed with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting for Detroit on Saturday night, including 3 of 9 on 3-pointers.

“It was fun, a cool experience, but a weird mix of emotions to be on the other side,” Robinson said. “From a competitive aspect. I really want to win that one. As much as I love those guys, I’d love to beat those guys.

“It was great to see those guys. You know, I’m always watching from afar, pulling for those guys.”