MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 116-107 loss to the New York Knicks: – The NBA schedule can tease. – Including the victories over the Hornets and Pistons that delivered the Heat to Wednesday night’s game at 2-1. – Then came the challenge of something real, in the Knicks. – Just like the challenge in the opener against the Magic. – Loss. – Loss. – Yes, a move above over .500 seems in the cards against the how-low-can-we-go tanking Wizards in Mexico City. – But that hardly would be a statement. – What follows, however, could be telling. – Starting with the next game at Kaseya Center, on Monday against the Kings. – And then games on a six-game trip against the Suns, Nuggets, Timberwolves and Pacers twice. – Those are the type of games where statements can be made. – If the Heat are capable. – Beat up on the bad teams and you wind up in the play-in, as the Heat have the past two seasons. – Quality wins are the separator. – With that search ongoing. – The Heat remained for the fourth time in as many games with an opening lineup of Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier. – Out for the Heat were Josh Richardson (calf strain), Kevin Love (personal reasons) and Josh Christopher (G League). – In addition, to save days against his two-way contract, Keshad Johnson was inactive. – That left the Heat with 13 available players. – Jaime Jaquez Jr.