The Miami Heat faced the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night in the second part of a home and home against the Hawks. They got it done and here’s how they did it.
The Miami Heat entered Thursday night’s game fresh off of a Tuesday victory against the same club they would be facing on Thursday. Beating the Atlanta Hawks 112-97 on Tuesday, the Heat probably came into this game thinking that more of the same would occur.
This is the type of game that some would call a “trap game”, due to the opposing team being without their best player and the fact that they had just beat this same team on Tuesday in their last game, and it proved to be just that. The Miami Heat opened the game up on multiple occasions, to a 15 point lead in the first half and an 18 point lead in the second half, only to see the Hawks close the gap on both occasions.
The Miami Heat wound up winning the game rather easily, with a final score of 106-97. Again, while you had those moments where it seemed as though the Heat had lost their sense of urgency, this game never really felt in peril. The Miami Heat may have let it get closer than it should have been at times throughout the game, but for the most part, they were in complete control from tip to final buzzer.
The Miami Heat were led in scoring by a familiar face in that role this season. Kendrick Nunn paced the team in points with 28. Not only did he lead the team in points for this game in particular, but his scoring up until this point has helped him to etch his name into the history books forever.
On the TNT broadcast, it was noted that Nunn has not become the highest-scoring undrafted rookie of all time through his first five games. According to ESPN, he is also the first rookie with at least 100 points scored through his first five games since Kevin Durant and has scored more in his first five games than all of the 26 number one overall picks since Shaq.
In the common draft era, Kendrick Nunn now has the most points (108) for an undrafted rookie over his first five games played! #NBARooks #HEATTwitter pic.twitter.com/OxTIKSB6kA
— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2019
Nunn just keeps on delivering, as he had two rebounds and two steals to go along with his 28 points. Meyers Leonard chipped in 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks as well. Tyler Herro had 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Bam Adebayo had 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and a steal. Duncan Robinson also had 12 points and three rebounds. Jimmy Butler only had five points, but he had nine rebounds, 11 assists, six steals, and three blocks.
This was a total team effort. All nine Heat players that played scored, while five of the nine were in double figures. They were without Justise Winslow due to back issues, while the Hawks were without Trae Young due to the ankle injury suffered in Tuesday’s game.
The Miami Heat will face the Houston Rockets on Sunday in Miami. This will be a tough test with James Harden and Russell Westbrook coming to town, but at least they have had a look at them in the preseason.
We are looking forward to seeing the Heat face another stiff opponent after beating the Milwaukee Bucks last weekend. Either way, Thursday was another good win and a heck of a way to get to 4-1 on this very young season.