SALT LAKE CITY — Observations and other notes of interest from Saturday night’s 147-116 victory over the Utah Jazz:

– Two weeks ago the Heat went into Indiana had the gall to discount their opposition.

– A loss to the league-worst Pacers followed.

– This time, no such arrogance.

– With no reason for such in light of what had been a 1-2 start to this five-game western swing that concludes Sunday night in Phoenix.

– This time, against an opponent that entered 15-30, the Heat were relentless.

– Not foolishly arrogant.

– “Our guys understand where we are and we’re not where we want to be,” coach Erik Spoelstra said going in. “So the time is now. We’re coming off a disappointing loss. We want to play a lot better, particularly on the defensive end.”

– His reference was Thursday night’s loss in Portland.

– “And, look,” Spoelstra said, “Utah has been dangerous on any given night, particularly the way they can score here at home.”

– Spoelstra added, “We’ve proven we can beat the top of each conference. We’ve also proved so far this season we can lose to the bottom of each conference. That’s the way the league is.”

– So needed desperation from a team that otherwise would have fallen to ninth in the East.

– With Davion Mitchell missing his fourth game with a shoulder contusion, the Heat opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Jakucionis.

– That lineup entered 1-1.

–  It was Larsson’s 24th start.

– Adebayo tied Udonis Haslem for second on the Heat all-time list for games started at 501.

– Dwyane Wade is the franchise’s all-time leader, at 847.

–  The Jazz opened with a lineup of Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, Jusuf Nurkic, Svi Mykhailiuk and Keyonte George.

– Larsson was called for his second foul 1:54 into the game, leading to the early insertion of Jaime Jaquez Jr.

– Nikola Jovic, amid his recent struggles, was next off the bench.

– Followed, together, by Simone Fontecchio and Dru Smith.

– With Myron Gardner making it 10 deep.

– Leaving Keshad Johnson the only active Heat player out of their rotation.

– Larsson then returned in the second quarter, with his activity allowing the Heat to move to their 73-52 halftime lead.

–  Gardner also was active in his early minutes.

– Likely leading to another rotation opportunity on Sunday, with Mitchell potentially to miss that one, as well.

– Jovic was uneven, but also active.

– Spoelstra went in stressing defense.

– “Defense has to travel, and we’ve had some slippage in containing the basketball one on one, some of our pick-and-roll defense has also slid, and we can’t afford it,” he said.

– Even with Kel’el Ware missing a fourth consecutive game with his hamstring strain, center Vlad Goldin was not summoned from the G League, as the Heat weigh balance with the 7-footer who is on a two-way contact.

– “We love the progress that he’s making,” Spoelstra said. “We want to continue to develop him there. He’ll spend time here. But right now, we’re just focused on the guys that are available.”

– Of his recent offensive success, Adebayo said at the morning shootaround, “I would say I wasn’t taking different shots than I was when I was in my slump. It’s just being consistent and now shots are falling. So that’s the biggest difference.”

– And when it comes to open threes, Adebayo said that make or miss, he is taking them.

– “There is no thought process,” he said. “If you’re open, shoot it.”

– Yes, Jakucionis said, he very much can sense he is being tested by veteran opponents.

– “I mean, obviously that’s the how the league is, and there’s a lot of like of very good, talented players and they just try to go at someone maybe they never saw, trying to test you,” he said. “So I’m just trying to be ready for that.”

– The game opened the 10th of the Heat’s league-high 17 back-to-back sets, with a 6-3 record on the second nights of such pairing.