Goran Dragic leading Miami Heat’s improved 3-point shooting

Goran Dragic’s recent play is as much to credit for the Miami Heat’s nine-game win streak as anything else.

Welcome to the Hot Hand, where after every Miami Heat game win or loss we recognize the player who best put his stamp on the game.

At the forefront of yet another dominant Miami Heat offensive performance was…you guessed it, Goran Dragic.

Finishing with a game-high 27 points on 61 percent shooting, Dragic once again carved up the opposing defense and, quite frankly, made the Atlanta Hawks look silly as the Heat won, 116-93.

On a night Miami connected on 12 three-pointers as a team, Dragic did his damage from that range, knocking down 4 of his 5 attempts from beyond the arc, including his first four. Adding five assists, Dragic was integral to the Heat’s ball movement Wednesday night.

Not since November of 2013 has Miami won this many games in a row, and it’s been the effort, energy, and hustle from Dragic that’s been spurring on a group that has struggled on offense this year.

“When we play like this, wins come easy,” Dragic said in a postgame interview with FOX Sports’s Jason Jackson.

The team has made 101 three’s during this nine-game win streak, and Dragic is bolstering Miami’s new-found three-point range. The Heat are making 43.6 percent of their three’s when Dragic is on the court, compared to 36.1 percent when he’s not, per NBA.com.

With Dragic re-emerging as a premier scorer, the Heat are getting their money’s worth for a player they traded a pair of first round picks for two seasons ago. He’s scoring big numbers, while helping to make his teammates better. If Dragic keeps playing like this, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Heat compete for one of the final two playoff spots in the East.

Next: 4 blockbuster trades the Heat could pull off

Miami (20-30) will remain home for a Saturday night showdown with Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 PM ET.