MILWAUKEE — While they would have appreciated a victory, Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. appreciated the moment, the Miami Heat’s past two first-round picks given starts in Saturday night’s 106-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Kevin Love and Jimmy Butler taking the night off.

For Jovic, the No. 27 pick in the 2022 draft out of Serbia, it was an opportunity to make a statement on the boards, the 20-year-old big man having bemoaned that lacking element in his previous play. He closed with 11 rebounds and eight points Saturday in his 21 minutes.

“I really liked seeing him get on the glass and go after it and not just be a block-out guy, against their size,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, with the Heat now turning their attention to Monday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the final stop on this three-game trip. “He was giving us good stuff in the paint, and offensively he’s just a unique player.

“The way he can rebound and go, those points were really important for us. This is something that we’ll just continue to build with him.”

Jaquez was limited to 18 minutes, last June’s No. 18 pick out of UCLA still on a minutes restriction due to a preseason groin injury. He closed with seven points and three rebounds.

What has become immediately clear is Spoelstra’s confidence in Jaquez’s defense, matching him against Jayson Tatum in Friday night’s loss to the Boston Celtics and then against Anthony Edwards from the outset Saturday.

“Welcome to the league and the introduction of our defense and responsibilities and all that,” Spoelstra said with a smile of throwing Jaquez into the defensive fire. “Because of where he is right now, he’s in a great place, but still on the minutes restriction. I figured it would be best to start him, and might as well give that challenge.

“And he’s a smart player. He picks up things fast. So day by day, he’s improving.”

Jovic appreciated the opportunity was temporary, with Butler and Love expected back against the Bucks on Monday night at Fiserv Forum.

“We’re young, both of us. We have a lot to learn,” Jovic said. “And I think Spo for sure’s going to do a good job with us. At this point we may not have a (rotation) spot. We have some other guys who need to play a lot.

“In these back-to-back situations, we’re probably going to get more minutes and I hope we’ll use them every time.”

Jovic acknowledged some defensive struggles against the Timberwolves, with the Heat alternating between man to man and zone.

“We’re mixing some coverages,” he said. “I was a little lost because of that. Like I said, Spo’s done a good job of making sure I’m good at those situations.”

For his part, Jaquez welcomed the defensive challenges.

“I would just say just trying my best to not let anything get away from me,” he said of the assignments against Tatum and Edwards. “Make them take tough shots, just staying in front.

“I was challenged with those assignments. I take pride in it. I’m just trying to get as many stops as I can, get the ball out of their hands and keep learning.”

Point guard Kyle Lowry, who at 37 pushed through both nights of the back-to-back set, said Jovic and Jaquez both showed promise.

“It’s fun to play basketball in general, and these young guys, Niko and Jaime, their abilities, it’s up to me as the older veteran is try to get them easy looks and get them confidence,” Lowry said.

“They both played well to start the game off and had good games. We just didn’t have a good game as a group.”

Injury report

Butler is not on the Heat injury report for Monday night’s game.

Also, Josh Richardson, who has yet to play this season, rejoined the Heat in Milwaukee.

Listed on the Heat injury report Sunday were: Haywood Highsmith (out), knee sprain; Jaquez (available), groin strain; Love (probable) shoulder contusion; Caleb Martin (doubtful) knee tendinosis; Richardson (doubtful) heel Inflammation; Duncan Robinson (available) foot sprain.