The latest edition of the Miami Heat Tip-Off, a weekly AllUCanHeat column, is here.
Well, this week started off rough for the Miami Heat.
After back-to-back blowout victories in stunning fashion, the Heat ended their initial homestand with a 2-2 record and left with more questions than answers.
Entering Monday’s game as nine-point favorites, ironically enough, Miami ended up victims to a 10-point defeat, falling to the Sacramento Kings 123-113. It wasn’t so much the offensive strategy that killed the Heat. Instead, it was the Kings’ run and gun-play.
Really, they ran and never looked back.
Willie Cauley-Stein scored 26 points and 13 rebounds, in a fantastic game that no one saw coming. Buddy Hield contributed 23 points, to assist the young and fast Kings that simply outplayed and outmatched the Heat.
De’Aaron Fox also had himself a game, with 20 points in 34 minutes of action.
The Kings outscored the Heat 77-55 in the second and third quarter, that derailed any attempt at a comeback entering the fourth.
Josh Richardson was the sliver of hope for the Heat, as he achieved a new career-high with 31 points. Combine that with Hassan Whiteside‘s 24 rebounds, and the Heat displayed a strong collaborative effort.
It just wasn’t enough to mount a comeback win at home.
Onto the next one for Miami though, as they start their road trip.
Upcoming Games:
Tuesday, October 30 versus the Charlotte Hornets (Away)
Saturday, November 3 versus the Atlanta Hawks (Away)
This Week’s Preview:
The Heat start their three-game road trip tonight, as they fight to climb back on top of .500 in the standings. Ranked seventh overall right now, four games behind number one seed Milwaukee Bucks, Miami has a tough test ahead of them.
They lost at home against a very tough and resilient Hornets team when they failed to stop Kemba Walker in the final seconds of the game last week. Tonight they enter the Hornet’s nest, with another shot at redemption.
After a devastating loss last night and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, expect this game to be extremely difficult for them.
Walker is averaging 31.7 points per game in seven games played so far, and shows no signs of slowing down. With their morale down, I see Richardson erupting again for 20+ points, but with fatigue wearing them down tonight, I think they slip again and leave Charlotte with a loss, unfortunately.
I do see them turning it around after a three day rest in Atlanta though.
With the Hawks on a two-game losing streak, the Heat will try to turn their luck around, in an attempt to salvage what’s left of the week.
This Week’s Challenges:
Can Rodney McGruder keep his production up?
Are the Jimmy Butler trade rumors affecting the team again?
Can the Heat slow down opposing All-Stars?
Here’s to back-to-back wins on the road, to show Miami’s resiliency among the top contenders.