With the All-Star break finished, the Miami Heat returned to action as they ventured into the Phillips Arena to face the Atlanta Hawks. In their last game, the Heat thwarted the Hawks in a 116 to 93 victory on their home court. Heading into the game, Miami looked to continue their winning ways to kickoff the second half of the regular season.
Kent Bazemore and Goran Dragic got both Atlanta and Miami on the board respectively with a layup each to start the first quarter. Afterwards, the Heat went on an eleven to three run as they led 13 to 7. Atlanta responded back with a nine to two run, led by Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. Miami went on a ten to eight run to close the first quarter as they led 25 to 24.
The Hawks started to cut Miami’s lead in the second quarter as Mike Muscala, Malcolm Delaney, Mike Dunleavy, and Taurean Prince. With Miami leading 32 to 30, Dunleavy would give Atlanta the lead, only for Miami to take it back on a fifteen to three run. Millsap would end the scoring run for the Hawks and would also carry the scoring load for them. With Miami leading 56 to 46, they went on a seven to three run, which saw Bazemore hit a long buzzer-beating three-pointer for the Hawks. Miami led 63 to 49 by halftime.
Bazemore and Dragic would open the third quarter with a three pointer and a layup. After a free throw from Delaney, Dragic, McGruder, and Dion Waiters added more points on the scoreboard for Miami. The Heat would go on a twenty to seven run throughout the quarter, until Thabo Sefolosha and Taurean Prince scored for the Hawks to end the run and the third quarter as Miami led 87 to 66.
In the fourth quarter, Dunleavy made two free throws for Atlanta, while Dragic and Tyler Johnson continued scoring for Miami. With the Heat leading 94 to 68, newly acquired Hawks player Ersan Ilyasova made his presence felt on the offensive end while contending against Wayne Ellington and Willie Reed. The Heat would carry onward to a 108 to 90 victory over the Hawks.
The Miami Heat continue their winning ways and has split the regular season series with the Hawks with two victories each. The Heat’s 16 3-pointers are the most they’ve scored this season. Miami also continues to improve on their ball movement, defense, and even getting some rebounds.
Another factor for the Heat’s victory would have to be the production of their bench. Miami’s bench players are truly difference makers, especially when the starting players are having off-nights.
”Everything looks better in this league when you make shots,” said Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
”We’re a tough team to beat when it looks like that,” Johnson said.
The Miami Heat are now in ninth place and only two games behind the Detroit Pistons for eighth place in the Eastern Conference Standings.
For the Heat, Tyler Johnson led the way with 23 points, Goran Dragic with 17 points, Rodney McGruder made 13 points.Dion Waiters and Willie Reed were in double-double figures. Waiters had 14 points and 10 assists, Reed with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
For the Hawks, Paul Millsap had 21 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. made 11 points, and Kent Bazemore with 10 points.
The next game for the Miami Heat is when they take on the Indiana Pacers. That game starts tonight at 8pm and will be televised locally on Sun Sports and nationally on NBA TV.
The Heat Check Magazine 