How the Heat cruised to largest win in franchise history

Playing at home has been a struggle for the Miami Heat this season. With losses to the Washington Wizards and the injury-ravaged Memphis Grizzlies, Miami was 18-17 in games at Kaseya Center before Friday night's matchup.

But against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, the Heat put together a historic outing that each fan would remember for good, winning by the largest margin in franchise history,142-82.

After multiple head-scratching defeats at home, the Miami Heat took care of business in an emphatic way

With the Trail Blazers being down multiple scorers and ball handlers including Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, the Heat suffocated Portland's offense and forced 24 turnovers while scoring 36 points off those mistakes.

Catapulted by a strong start from Bam Adebayo, the Heat built a 29-19 lead after the first quarter. The Heat carried their strong play into the second quarter where the game really got out of hand. With a strong bench unit charge led by Haywood Highsmith, Miami put together a 45-point quarter and outscored the Trail Blazers by 24 points.

Highsmith made three 3-pointers in the second, and has been on an absolute heater from behind the arc, hitting 12-of-13 from downtown over his last three games.

While Highsmith was most active participant in the second quarter three-point party, Adebayo also jumped in and hit his top of the key three that is starting to become automatic.

In only 26 minutes, Adebayo was one assist away from a triple-double and ended the night with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. While Adebayo was getting his rest in a massive blowout, Thomas Bryant stepped in and put together his best performance in a Heat uniform.

What's been most impressive about Bryant's drastic improvement has been his high motor on both ends of the court.

Even with Kevin Love available, Erik Spoesltra continued to roll with Bryant as the backup five. Although the minutes might not always be in the 20s, continuing to be an energizer off the bench at a position where the Heat have had trouble finding consistency in with the second unit will be huge in the long run.

The Heat put together an offensive clinic and set together multiple season highs while also breaking franchise records.

Such a convincing win could turn the tides at home where it has been a struggle to reel off wins consistently. The Heat have played with their food a lot at home, and have lost to undermanned teams such as the Grizzlies with no Ja Morant or Desmond Bane and the Atlanta Hawks with no Trae Young and De'Andre Hunter on Udonis Haslem's jersey retirement night. In this instance, Miami smelled blood in the water against a depleted Trail Blazers team and tore them apart.

With five of the last nine games at home, it's time for Miami turn around the struggles at home for good, and what better than to build off a historic performance.