The ready sport is over for the Miami Heat. The Atlanta Hawks can be their opponent within the best-of-seven opening-round of the NBA playoffs, beginning Sunday at 1 p.m. at FTX Arena.
The Hawks secured the No. 8 and last Eastern Conference playoff seed with a 107-101 victory Friday night time over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on the shut of the play-in spherical, behind 38 factors from Trae Young, together with 32 within the second half.
The Hawks completed the common season No. 9 within the East, then received a winner-take-all sport Wednesday night time in opposition to the visiting Charlotte Hornets, who closed the common season No. 10 within the East. Then got here Friday night time’s victory over the Cavaliers, who completed the common season No. 8.
The Hawks current extra of a problem than a typical No. 8 seed, when factoring within the scoring of Young, the taking pictures of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari and Kevin Huerter after which the within drive of heart Clint Capela, well being permitting.
The Heat went 3-1 in opposition to Atlanta through the common season.
Heat vs. Hawks matchups
Center: Capella appeared in solely two of the 4 regular-season conferences, however averaged 10 rebounds and 11.5 factors in these two video games, having typically outmuscle the Heat inside. Bam Adebayo led the Heat in scoring within the season collection, however his 22.5-point common got here in solely two appearances. It in the end will come all the way down to Capella’s drive versus Adebayo’s versatility, offered Capela can push previous the hyperextended proper knee that took him out of the second half of Friday night time’s sport in Cleveland. Edge: Heat.
Power ahead: This come all the way down to accidents, with the Heat’s P.J. Tucker recovering from a calf sprain and the Hawks’ John Collins making an attempt to work again from finger and foot points which have had him out since March 11. When each are wholesome, Collins is the one referred to as upon to provide excess of Tucker. Still, Collins didn’t go for greater than 16 factors in any of his three appearances in opposition to the Heat this season. If Collins can’t go, then Gallinari possible once more would get the decision right here. Edge: Hawks (if Collins performs).
Small ahead: Jimmy Butler was terrible within the first spherical final 12 months for the Heat and has to have vengeance on his thoughts. Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter endured a tough night time within the groups’ most-recent assembly, however has the flexibility to excel on each ends, simply maybe to not Butler ranges. Butler averaged 18.7 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 rebounds in his three video games in opposition to the Hawks this season. Edge: Heat.
Shooting guard: This will come all the way down to make or miss, with Max Strus not too long ago recast in a beginning function for the Heat and Kevin Huerter filling the function for the Hawks. Both are able to breakout 3-point moments. Strus shot .462 on 3-pointers in opposition to the Hawks this season, Huerter .333 in opposition to the Heat. Edge: Even.
Point guard: Kyle Lowry was added within the offseason to have the Heat enjoying from a place of energy at level guard. Yet on this matchup, if Lowry can simply preserve it even with Young, will probably be a web acquire for the Heat. Young averaged 25.5 factors in opposition to the Heat this season, with a excessive sport of 35. Edge: Hawks.
Bench: The Heat arguably preserve their greatest participant in reserve, with Tyler Herro enjoying as sixth man. Caleb Martin additionally figures to have a major function collection as a (try-to-be) Young stopper. For the Hawks, depth may come all the way down to well being, from Collins permitting Gallinari to play off the bench, to Bogdanovic transferring previous the ankle sprain that had him questionable in opposition to the Cavaliers. Herro averaged 20 factors and seven.7 assists in his three video games in opposition to Atlanta this season. Edge: Heat.
Intangibles: The Heat went arduous for the No. 1 seed, which meant homecourt all through the Eastern Conference playoffs. That has to matter. The final time the Hawks received on the highway in opposition to a Top 6 seed within the East was Dec. 23 in Philadelphia. But the Hawks have the expertise of a returning roster that superior to final season’s Eastern Conference finals. Still, one workforce needed to fly in from Cleveland 39 hours earlier than tipoff, the opposite has remained in South Florida all week. Edge: Heat.
Coaching: The final time the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra labored the playoffs in opposition to Nate McMillan, the Heat swept the Pacers within the 2020 first spherical, with McMillan dismissed by Indiana shortly thereafter. Edge: Heat.
Prediction: Heat in six.
Schedule
Game 1: Sunday, 1 p.m. FTX Arena, TNT.
Game 2: Tuesday, Time TBA, FTX Arena.
Game 3: Friday, State Farm Arena, Time TBA, ESPN.
Game 4: Sun. April 24, State Farm Arena, 7 p.m. TNT
Game 5*: Tue. April 26, FTX Arena, Time TBA
Game 6*: Thu. April 28, State Farm Arena, Time TBA
Game 7*: Sat. April 30, FTX Arena, Time TBA, TNT
* — If essential
(All video games obtainable in South Florida on Bally Sports Sun.)
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Source: www.bostonherald.com