Adebayo, Herro power Heat to needed rebound in 117-109 victory over Hawks

MIAMI — An evening after the sky was falling, the Miami Warmth regained their footing Saturday, with a wanted 117-109 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Miami-Dade Enviornment.

After all, in typical 2022-23 Warmth trend, nothing got here straightforward, with it changing into the Warmth’s league-leading forty fifth clutch recreation of the season (one inside 5 factors at any level inside the last 5 minutes).

However with Bam Adebayo stabilizing issues with high-percentage paint play and with Tyler Herro creating offense when wanted, the Warmth averted falling to the No. 8 seed within the Jap Convention playoff race.

“Man, we received perseverance,” Adebayo mentioned. “We received resilience.”

The victory moved the Warmth to a 2-1 lead within the season sequence, with the groups to fulfill once more Monday night time on the Warmth’s court docket.

Adebayo led the Warmth with 30 factors and 11 rebounds, supported by 20 factors from Tyler Herro, with Jimmy Butler filling the field rating with 15 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.

“This could be a domino to a few extra,” Adebayo mentioned.

The Warmth protection additionally had its moments, stifling Hawks’ scoring chief Trae Younger to eight factors on 2-of-13 capturing.

“To get the win was vital, and that’s solely midway there,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “We all know we now have a extremely massive recreation towards this similar workforce on Monday.”

5 Levels of Warmth from Saturday’s recreation:

1. Closing time: The Warmth led 29-26 on the finish of the opening interval, regardless of committing eight first-quarter turnovers after which pushed their result in 66-49 on the intermission.

“I assumed the primary half actually set the tone for the sport,” Spoelstra mentioned.

However after pushing to a 21-point benefit within the third interval, the Warmth’s lead was right down to 87-75, as Butler took his customary relaxation at the beginning of the fourth.

Butler then returned with 7:05 to play, with the Warmth’s lead right down to 99-94. A Caleb Martin 3-pointer and an Adebayo dunk moved the Warmth to a 104-94 lead from there.

Ultimately the Hawks received inside the 5 factors wanted to make it a “clutch” recreation, however this by no means received too clutch, the Warmth as much as a 12-point lead with 2:44 remaining.

“I feel it simply speaks volumes to our psychological toughness as a unit,” Herro mentioned of bouncing again from the loss to the Knicks.

2. Bam again: After an uneven recreation towards the Knicks, Adebayo was aggressive and environment friendly, which was wanted with Hawks middle Clint Capela additionally filling the field rating.

After ready for the third quarter to make his transfer Friday towards the Knicks, Adebayo this time scored 13 factors within the second interval, additionally scoring in double figures within the fourth.

Adebayo’s first rebound of the fourth quarter gave him a double-double.

“I had a nasty couple of video games,” Adebayo mentioned, “so it’s good to bounce again.”

He closed 10 of 12 from each the sphere and foul line, greater than offsetting the 16 factors and 13 rebounds from Capela.

“We had been capable of get him some straightforward baskets on the rim,” Spoelstra mentioned of Adebayo.

3. Trae stoppers: Having developed a swarming and synchronized recreation plan towards Younger, together with throughout final season’s 4-1 opening-round playoff win, the Warmth once more stifled the Hawks guard within the first half, limiting him to a few factors on 1-of-4 capturing.

Younger then fell to 1 of 9 going into the fourth quarter, later dipping to 1 of 12.

To his credit score, he compensated with a game-high 10 assists, including 5 steals.

“All the pieces that we do is principally in our defensive package deal towards all the nice gamers,” Spoelstra mentioned, with the Warmth principally dealing with Younger out of their base protection.

4. Zeller time: Amid a season when aid has been considerably restricted within the center when Adebayo has gone to the bench, Cody Zeller purchased the Warmth loads of time in a 13-point first half that noticed him go 4 of 4 from the sphere and 5 of 6 from the road in his 9:58.

“Cody’s simply actually regular,” Spoelstra mentioned. “He’s an skilled, profitable participant.”

Not solely has Zeller offered an improve on not too long ago dealt Dewayne Dedmon, however Omer Yurtseven put collectively a second consecutive double-double Saturday night time in his rehab project with the G League.

“I simply need to carry power to the court docket after I step on the court docket,” Zeller mentioned. “I felt slightly rusty my first few video games, however tonight I felt like I settled in.”

5. Assist system: With Martin placing collectively a second consecutive stable effort, this time with 15 factors, the Warmth bench proved a basic reality, that the Warmth can win if it even is merely practical.

“Since we made the change,” Spoelstra mentioned of Martin going to the bench in favor of not too long ago acquired Kevin Love, “he’s been one of many constant shiny spots in our rotation.”

With Victor Oladipo contributing six assists, there was sufficient there to maintain the starters recent on the second night time of the back-to-back.

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