Joe Johnson caught fire late to keep the Miami Heat’s homecourt hopes alive.
Joe Johnson scored 15 points in the final 5:48 of regulation to lead the Miami Heat to a much-needed win against the Detroit Pistons that will keep their hope for homecourt advantage in the playoffs alive.
The Heat and Pistons played a tight and often times ugly game that featured 16 lead changes and both teams combining for 31 turnovers and going just 12-of-38 from 3-point range. This game was battled in the paint, that is, until Johnson caught fire in the fourth quarter and led the Heat to the win Tuesday.
Here are some notes from the game.
1. Joe Cool
Like I pointed out already, Johnson came up big. He went on his run of 15 points with 5:48 left, with the Heat leading just 79-78. It ended a four point run for the Pistons and ignited a 10-2 run for the Heat that gave them an 89-81 lead with 2:36 left.
Johnson drained a pair of 3s and an 18-footer before finding Hassan Whiteside on an alley oop dunk to finish off the run.
Johnson entered the game struggling somewhat from the 3-point line, but he caught fire when Miami needed him most.
2. Whiteside’s struggles
In his second game since being reinserted in the starting lineup, Hassan Whiteside struggled. He went just 4-of-10 from the field, and particularly struggled around the rim, where he made just two shots all night. Going head to head with Pistons center Andre Drummond can do that.
He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Not a bad line at all. But the lack of efficiency hurt the Heat. To be fair, Whiteside did a nice job setting screens, which sprung a couple of layups for Dwyane Wade.
Still, Whiteside’s struggles to gain position against bigger centers is noticeable, and concerning heading into the playoffs.
3. Teeth of the Dragon
That time Goran Dragic got his tooth knocked out of his face and then continued playing.
3. Playoff picture
The win keeps the Heat in the race for the No. 3 seed, which they can clinch with a win Wednesday in Boston. If this game was tough, tomorrow’s game with be even more challenging. The Celtics have plenty to play for, too, as they are just a game behind the Heat in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Heat have clinched, at worst, the No. 5 seed. A win tomorrow clinches the No. 3 seed and homecourt advantage in the first round.
Even if Miami drops the game tomorrow night, all is not lost. A loss tomorrow and a Hawks loss against the Wizards the same night still earns them homecourt.
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Two out of three ain’t bad, but it’ll be best if the Heat just win the second game of its back-to-back.