Six players score in double digits to lead Miami Heat to win over Bucks
By Wes Goldberg
The Miami Heat extend their win streak to three against the Milwaukee Bucks Friday.
All five of the Miami Heat starters scored in double-digits, with one bench player also joining the party, in a complete team win against the Milwuakee Bucks Friday.
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each scored 20-plus points, Goran Dragic returned from injury, Stoudemire played stellar ball in place of an injured Hassan Whiteside and Deng hit a clutch 3-pointer late. Gerald Green chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Bosh was Miami’s points leader for most of the game, that is, until Wade closed out the game with 10 points in the final six minutes to clinch the win. Shouts to Luol Deng, who hit a clutch 3-pointer to break a 98-98 tie with 2:26 left.
Without Whiteside lurking the paint for the Heat, the Bucks took to the paint and dominated near the rim. The Bucks finished with a whopping 60 points in the paint, thanks mostly to Greg Monroe and Giannis Antetokounmpo going to the rim early and often. Monroe finished with 24 points and Antetokounmpo finished with an impressive 28.
However, the Heat shot better from everywhere else. The Bucks made just two of their 12 3-point attempts. Miami wasn’t on fire from beyond the arc–they made 7-of-18, or 38.9 percent–but they were certainly better in a close game.
The ball movement was impressive, with Miami finishing with 27 assists. Dragic’s return certainly halped in this regard, but it was Wade who did most of the facilitating early, finishing the first half with seven assists.
Three stars
Wade finished with 24 points, seven assists and four rebounds. He got to the line 13 times, draining 10 of his free throws. Wade scored 10 of Miami’s last 12 points.
Bosh scored 20 points, had six rebounds and five assists. He also made two of his five 3’s, which helped open up the paint a little bit for his teammates.
In his first game back in eight games, Dragic was of immense help to Miami’s ball movement and this win. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting but, more importantly, had eight assists.
BONUS STAR!!!! (Haven’t had one of these in a while) Amar’e Stoudemire, starting in Whiteside’s place, finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. He set awesome screens for his teammates and had a key block late to help seal the win.
Shouts to Josh McRoberts who played his first game in a bazillion years tonight. He scored two points and had two assists in 16 minutes.
Highlights
"STAT – 10 points (5/8 FG)"
More heat: Lakers targeting Hassan Whiteside in possible trade
Up next
The Miami Heat (26-21) host the Atlanta Hawks (27-21) at 6 pm ET Sunday.