Miami Heat Dispatch: Heat fall to No. 1 Timberwolves, despite return of stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo
By Max Escarpio
MIAMI -- Another blown lead on the Miami Heat’s résumé. The Heat gave up a double-digit lead to the Minnesota Timberwolves, falling apart in the fourth quarter. Minnesota escaped with a 112-108 victory Monday, despite the return of Heat stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Why the Heat lost: Another blown lead
It doesn’t matter if the Heat are up 20 or three to start the fourth quarter. Either way, it’s going down to the wire. Miami held a lead as large as 17 points but was unable to find consistency in maintaining its lead. This time the loss was at the hands of the No. 1 team in the West.
Both teams' stats were similar, with the Timberwolves shooting 49.4% from the field, while tallying 48 rebounds and 27 assists. The Heat basically matched that with a 47.1% field goal percentage, snagging 46 rebounds and 27 assists.
But Miami was outscored 58-42 in the second half -- including 23-17 in the third quarter -- falling apart on both ends of the floor. Adebayo had a difficult night against Minnoestas’s interior defense, and the Heat’s guards couldn’t contain Anthony Edwards, even with the attempt to blitz and double-team. Edwards finished with 32 points on the night, scoring 10 in the fourth quarter, including the game-sealing turnaround jumper with 27 seconds remaining.