Tyler Herro's return makes Heat legitimate threat in the East

After his first game of the season, Tyler Herro admitted he had "a long way to go" to get back to his All-Star form. He was still good enough to score 24 points as the Miami Heat won their fifth straight game.

Herro missed the first 17 games of the season after having surgery on his foot and ankle. He returned Monday night as the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks, 106-102. The Heat were missing leading scorer Norman Powell and starting small forward Andrew Wiggins, but the boost they got from Herro's return helped them survive a slumping Mavericks team that keep dropping close games.

Tyler Herro lit it up in limited minutes

Coming back from his surgery, Herro told reporters after the game that he still needed more rehab, but returned because he felt healthy enough to play. That was crucial with Powell (25.4 points per game) and Wiggins (16.7) out with injuries. Herro shot 12-for-18 in 29 minutes, and while he didn't notch a single assist, he also grabbed seven rebounds.

Powell has been carrying the team offensively after a summer trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. Wiggins was bringing adequate offense on the wing but excelling with two "stocks" (steals plus blocks) per game. Still, the Heat have been lacking the attacking, lead guard skills they were used to from Herro, who averaged 23.9 points and 5.5 assists last season.

Miami has the NBA's No. 4 defense this season, thanks to Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware (18 rebounds, three blocks Monday) on the inside and defensive ace Davion Mitchell on the perimeter. Wiggins is a plus defender, as are Jaime Jaquez, Jr. and Dru Smith. But despite Powell's heroics so far, Herro is Miami's lone truly elite scorer.