On Friday night, the Miami Heat visited the Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but without the services of Jimmy Butler (tail bone) and Bam Adebayo (thumb). The Heat won, 113-104, after an incredible performance by the team.
Tyler Herro made shots and so did Kyle Lowry, arguably his best showing of the year. However, most relieving and impressive at the same time— was the showing put forth by Duncan Robinson.
Duncan Robinson finished the game with a season-high 24 points, two rebounds, and one assist while shooting 63.6 percent (7/11) from the field. His ability as a spot-up shooter was also on full display Friday, after making 57.1 percent (4/7) of his shots from behind the arc.
A win made that 45-minute 4th quarter worth it. pic.twitter.com/HI5qJng8WH
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 4, 2021
Robinson opened up his hot shooting night with a deep shot after the first minute of the first quarter. It came in as hot as it left his hands, off a pass from PJ Tucker.
The Miami Heat visited the Pacers in Indiana on Friday, without Bam and Jimmy. They needed production and Duncan Robinson answered the call.
He then followed it with another shot from three after a kick-out pass from a running Kyle Lowry. Then, he made a three from the wing after a pick and pop play that was set up by Lowry, but also as he was fouled by Malcolm Brogdon.
Duncan would finish the first quarter with 14 points. He would continue his scoring ways on the night with a couple of layups and a made three-point shot from the corner after a pick set by one of the hardest working men in sports, Dewayne Dedmon.
Currently, Duncan Robinson is averaging 10.4 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game. He is also averaging, a career-worst, 34.9 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from the three-point across his three full seasons in the National Basketball Association.
The question in every Miami Heat fans’ mind after his performance on Friday night will be— “can he fully regain his shooting on a game-to-game basis, while adding this extra stuff, and while keeping it all going up to and through the playoffs?”
That question remains to be seen, but showings like these continue to provide hope. With a shooter of his ilk, that seems to be adding stuff when he needs to the most, you have confidence that he can be a productive member of the team in either situation.
However, you would always want him to be that peak-elite shooter that he has been, again, the greatest part of why you have so much faith that he can get back there. Saturday night against Milwaukee wasn’t great, again, but you take what you can get when he has struggled as he has.
Here’s to more Indiana showings though! Hopefully, he’s on his way back again.