That a 21-0 third-quarter run wasn’t sufficient to resolve it spoke to the Miami Heat’s uneven play Friday night time in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks.
As did the shortcoming to carry a 14-point lead within the fourth quarter.
Instead, it was a battle to the end, in what changed into a 111-110 Heat loss at State Farm Arena that diminished their result in 2-1 within the best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff collection.
And even that consequence would possibly in the end show secondary, with the Heat dropping level guard Kyle Lowry for the night time within the third quarter with a hamstring damage.
“Drained emotionally,” was how Heat guard Tyler Herro summed up the night time.
It was determined when Hawks guard Trae Young drove for the profitable basket with 4.4 seconds left to shut the scoring, with the Heat’s Jimmy Butler then off on a 3-point try simply earlier than the ultimate buzzer.
“We didn’t get the greatest execution or a clean look at the end,” coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged.
Herro led the Heat with 24 factors, with Butler and Bam Adebayo every going for double-doubles, Butler with 20 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Adebayo with 13 factors and 11 rebounds. Max Strus added 20 factors.
Young led the Hawks with 24 factors, with Bogdan Bogdanovic including 18 for Atlanta.
“They fought their butts off, and that’s what the playoff is,” Herro stated of the Hawks.
Five Degrees of Heat from Friday’s sport:
1. Closing time: The Heat led 24-22 on the finish of the primary interval, fell behind by 11 within the second quarter, after which trailed 61-54 at halftime.
But then, the Heat let unfastened with their 21-0 third-quarter run to maneuver to an 84-68 lead, taking an 85-77 benefit into the fourth.
The Heat then went up 14, earlier than Young tied it 101-101 with a 3-point play.
It went backwards and forwards till Heat energy ahead P.J. Tucker transformed a 3-pointer for a 110-109 Heat lead with 53.9 seconds left.
But after empty possessions for each groups, Young scored on his floater with 4.4 seconds left.
“When the big moment came,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan stated of Young, “he had the last possession, he made it happen.”
2. Kyle concern: Lowry was misplaced for the night time within the third quarter, with what Spoelstra stated was a hamstring problem. He closed with six factors on 4-of-7 capturing, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes.
“I do not know the severity,” Spoelstra stated, with the coaching workers recommending Lowry not proceed.
Earlier, Lowry was compelled to the bench along with his second foul with 5:56 left within the opening interval after which shortly after returning was referred to as for his third foul, with 8:05 left within the second quarter.
3. Getting his: Unable to discover a rhythm within the collection’ first two video games. Herro did simply that within the second interval, with 12 factors within the quarter.
His offense was wanted, because the Heat in any other case struggled after an early Butler burst.
Herro had been restricted to 21 complete factors within the collection’ first two video games.
His line on Friday included 4 3-pointers, seven rebounds and 4 assists.
“He gave us some big-time shot-making and playmaking, which we needed,” Spoelstra stated.
4. Early scare: Butler went down heard after absorbing contact to his chest and hip from John Collins after he was fouled by De’Andre Hunter whereas scoring 2:13 into the sport.
The Heat then referred to as time, with Butler in a position to make it to the bench after which shoot the free throw for the 3-point play. By rule, Butler needed to shoot the free throw with a view to stay within the sport.
He made the free throw and continued on, closing the primary quarter with 11 factors and 5 rebounds.
5. Timing factor: Listed as a 7 p.m. begin however truly scheduled for a 7:17 p.m. to accommodate the national-television pregame, the sport was delayed till 7:55 attributable to a suspicious package deal close to the world being investigated.
The investigation prevented some followers from transferring to their assigned seating sections, with the world three-quarters empty at 7 p.m.
Sunday’s Game 4 in Atlanta is also listed for 7 p.m., with that opening tip schedule for shortly thereafter.
The Hawks entered having received 20 of their earlier 23 dwelling video games.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com