Observations and other notes of interest from Monday night’s 123-106 victory over the Houston Rockets:

— It reached the point going in where even the Heat social-media team was calling it ‘Dipo Day.

— This assuredly was not a night of late-season doldrums.

— Not with Victor Oladipo back in the mix for the first time since April.

— The ovation when Oladipo entered in the first period was as loud as anything Monday night outside of Tyler Herro’s halftime-heave 3-pointers.

— Mostly, it was a night of hope, as Oladipo works his way back from 11 months away from the action.

— Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Oladipo returns in better shape than not only during his initial Heat tour, but even the preceding years.

— “He’s better, by all the metrics and measurements and everything that the training staff has tested him on,” Spoelstra said. “It really is remarkable what he was able to do last year basically on one leg. So this is probably the best he’s felt before three years ago, before the injury.”

— Spoelstra said he appreciated the road back.

— “This has been a very taxing and tough three years for him,” he said. “He’s played 52 games in three seasons, less than 2,000 minutes, and he’s had just an incredible fortitude to be able to battle and fight continue to improve and get healthy.”

— So back better, strong, ready for what’s next.

— “Right now,” Spoelstra said, “everybody has categorically said that he’s in a much better place physically than he was last year, when he first arrived.”

— Center Bam Adebayo said he appreciated how much the night meant to Oladipo.

— “Everybody knows who plays in this Association when that gift is taken away from you like this, it’s some dark days,” Adebayo said.

— Guard Gabe Vincent said Oladipo had remained positive through the steps leading to Monday.

— “I mean he’s had great energy still, great energy on the bench, great energy in practice,” Vincent said. “When he’s had his chances to compete, he plays hard. He brings good energy, he’s positive.”

— Markieff Morris again went through pregame shooting on the main court. But still no sign of contact work.

— Morris remained out, the lone remaining Heat player sidelined by injury.

— The only other unavailable player Monday was guard Javonte Smart, who returned to G League Sioux Falls on his two-way contract.

— Kyle Lowry was back from a week away due to a family issue, and back in the starting lineup.

— Rounding out the Heat first five were Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, P.J. Tucker and Duncan Robinson.

— Butler’s first basket moved him past Tyler Johnson for 24th on the Heat all-time list.

— With his third assist, Butler moved past Grant Long and into 13th on the Heat all-time list.

— Tucker’s third 3-point attempt was the 2,200th of his career.

— Herro again played as Heat sixth man.

— Followed by Dewayne Dedmon and Caleb Martin together.

— And then with 1:55 left in the opening period and the Heat down 30-22, Oladipo entered.

— And promptly took a charge on his first defensive possession of the season.

— For now, the little things likely will have to suffice.

— All as Vincent and Max Strus watched from the bench.

— Spoelstra used a coach challenge in a bid to avoid Adebayo’s fourth foul, midway through the third quarter. But after video replay, the call of a charge stood, forcing the Heat center to the bench.

— The Rockets rested veteran 3-point specialist Eric Gordon on the second night of their back-to-back that opened with Sunday’s victory in Houston and also again held out Dennis Schroder, due to an ankle issue.

— Then, just before the opening tip, it was announced Rockets center Christian Wood was out due to illness.

— Alperen Sengun started in place of Wood, with the Rockets entering 0-5 in Sengun’s starts.

— As for Oladipo’s return, Rockets coach Stephen Silas said pregame, “Obviously, for Victor, it’s great for him, after everything he has been through, the injuries. It’s like one after the other. So for him to be coming back tonight is great.”

— Of having coached Oladipo with the Rockets, Silas said, “He’s competitive. He wants to do things the right way. He is a fighter. For him to fight through all of the injuries that he has had and manage the ups and downs, the emotional part of what he’s been through is admirable.”

— Silas also had to deal with Lowry’s return.

— “He is the ultimate point guard,” Silas said. “He controls the tempo and knows how to get guys involved, where they need the ball.”

— John Wall, held out this season by Houston, was on the Rockets’ bench.