The Heat is in slow motion to start the game (1/8 on shots, 3 loss of balls) and the Hawks take advantage of this to quickly take an 11-point lead. The first quarter therefore turns logically in favor of the locals (27-21), skilful (11/19) and opportune against a giddy team.
But Erik Spoelstra’s men did not let their opponents hope for too long: with a second quarter of 35 points on 48% on shots (11/23), they quickly returned to the game. Conversely, the Hawks lose the thread in attack (7/24 on shots) and are overtaken at halftime (56-51).
The substitutes are in the spotlight on these first 24 minutes since Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson accumulate 28 points off the bench for the Heat, when the returning De’Andre Hunter compiles 13 points at 4/8 on shots on the Hawks side.
After the break, the Heat stirred the knife in the wound and stuck a… 19-2 in 5 minutes to the Hawks, including 4 award-winning shots, to increase their lead to +22 (75-53). The premises are sounded, the spectators of the State Farm Arena disillusioned. The Hawks spend the rest of the second half running behind the score, in vain, despite a brief hope of a “comeback” five minutes from the final buzzer (-13). This is the ninth consecutive defeat at home for Nate McMillan’s squad, which is getting closer and closer to an internal crisis.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
The Return of De’Andre Hunter after 26 games of absence caused by an operation on the right wrist. In 24 minutes off the bench, he scored 15 points (including 13 in the first half) at 4/11 on shots.
No Heat player with a negative +/-. Eleven Miami players walked the floor, nine of them have a positive +/- (the other two, Kyle Guy and Chris Silva, entered for 1 minute and 23 seconds of “garbage time”, are at zero). The proof of an absolute collective domination.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Tyler Herro off the bench. The sixth man from Miami came close to the triple-double: 21 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds. He took on the lead builder role with flying colors and sliced up the Hawks defense with his picks. A new quality performance for the one who is certainly the best substitute in the league this season.
✅ Omer Yurtseven. Holder in the absence of Bam Adebayo, the former Georgetown is enjoying the Heat system. Facing a Hawks team deprived of Clint Capela, he did damage: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists.
✅ John collins. Frustrated with his role within these dysfunctional Hawks this season, the inside has been the most prominent player for the locals. He compiled 16 points and 11 rebounds at 6/9 on shots.
⛔️ Kevin Hurter. Tough evening for the former Maryland. Biggest playing time for his team when he came off the bench, he painfully compiled 7 points (2/9) and 4 assists.
⛔️ The Hawks third quarter. By conceding this 19-2 in five minutes, the Hawks dug their own grave. The delay was then too large and the Heat players too confident. Especially since on the side of the attack, it was not glorious either (16 points at 5/18…).
THE FOLLOWING
Heat and Hawks meet on Friday, this time in Florida.
