Bam Adebayo scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half as the Miami Heat ended a three-game losing streak with a 110-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
Nikola Jovic contributed 18 points, while Tyler Herro recorded 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who remain undefeated at 7-0 when limiting their opponents to below 100 points. Duncan Robinson of Miami also had a solid performance, scoring 17 points including five successful 3-point shots out of 10 attempts.
On the Brooklyn side, Cam Johnson and Noah Clowney each tallied 19 points. Keon Johnson scored 15 points, and Tyrese Martin finished with 14. Brooklyn managed to close the first half strongly with a 17-6 run, reducing their deficit to just one point before the break. However, the Heat dominated the second half, outscoring the Nets 52-38.
Miami’s star forward Jimmy Butler missed his second consecutive game due to a stomach illness. Additionally, Miami’s reserve guard Dru Smith exited the game early in the second quarter due to a lower left leg injury and did not return.
In terms of recent performances, the Nets have struggled with a 2-8 record since a three-game winning streak in November, with six of their losses coming by double-digit margins, including two losses by 25 or more points. On the other hand, the Heat bounced back from their losing streak with this much-needed win.
A key moment in the game came as Miami, following a disappointing loss to Orlando where they squandered a large lead, opened the fourth quarter on a strong note with a five-point run, extending their lead to 88-78. The Heat maintained their momentum in the final period, outscoring the Nets 27-17.
The Heat’s success from the free-throw line was notable, shooting an impressive 21 of 24, with Adebayo making 7 of 8 attempts and Herro converting 5 of 6.
Looking ahead, both teams have upcoming games on Thursday, with the Nets traveling to face Milwaukee and the Heat playing in Orlando.
