Short-Handed Miami Heat Defeats Atlanta 117-109

The Hawks lost to a Miami Heat team that was missing Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro

The Hawks came into tonight's matchup against the Miami Heat as big favorites and it was a huge opportunity to get a win against their division rival. They squandered that chance tonight and the Heat continue to have success against the Hawks. 

The Heat were missing Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Caleb Martin, but they were not going to be an easy out. Erik Spoelstra is still the best coach in the NBA and he was going to have his team playing hard tonight on the road. 

Atlanta was debuting their City Edition Uniforms tonight against Miami. 

There were no changes to the starting lineup for Atlanta. Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De'Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela were the starters. Miami started Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Haywood Highsmith, and Bam Adebayo. 

Atlanta is arguably the worst first quarter team in the NBA and they had another poor showing in the first quarter tonight against a very shorthanded Miami team. 

Miami started hot and did not let up in the first quarter. The Heat hit 8 of their first 12 shots and led 20-9 halfway through the quarter. Adebayo was running the offense and had eight points to go along with three rebounds. The Hawks offense could not find a rhythm and on the other end, they had a hard time stopping a Miami offense that was shooting the ball confidently. 

After the first quarter, Miami led by 17 points, 41-24 and they were red hot from the floor. The Heat shot 68% from the field and 44% from three. That is not all though. Miami was averaging 1.67 points per possession in the first quarter and had an 80.3% true shooting percentage. Adebayo had 10 points in the quarter, Lowry had nine, and Josh Richardson contributed six points. 

Atlanta was not as good at shooting the ball in the opening quarter. The Hawks shot 36% from the field and from three-point range. Hunter led the way with six points. 

The Hawks were able to close the gap in the second quarter, winning it 28-22. Still, the Heat led by 11 at halftime and in the second quarter, it was Jaquez Jr who led the way with 10 points for the Heat. It was better defense from the Hawks in the second quarter, but the poor start once against doomed Atlanta. 

Atlanta kept cutting into the lead, but the defense would let the Heat continue to hit shot after shot. Wesley Matthews played in his first minutes as an Atlanta Hawk and hit a couple of big threes, but the Hawks allowed 30 points in the quarter. 

That was the story of the second half and the fourth quarter. Any time that Atlanta was trying to make it a game and cut into the lead, the Heat would answer. This was how the entire fourth quarter went. The Heat would win 117-109 and Atlanta could not capture that second-half magic as they had before during this season. 

It was another terrible start that doomed the Hawks, but turnovers had something to do with it too. The Hawks committed 21 turnovers in this game. 

Trae Young and the Hawks lost again to the Miami Heat / Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta would shoot 43% from the field tonight and 39% from three. Trae Young had a double-double with 27 points and 11 assists, and Murray had 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but it was hard to find another guy on offense for Atlanta. 

The Heat shot 48% from the floor and 31% from three. Adebayo was the best player on the floor tonight and finished 26 points and 16 rebounds, but Jaquez Jr was super impressive for a rookie. 

This is a disappointing result for Atlanta. Miami is missing two of their best players (Butler and Herro) and a key rotation player (Martin), but they were able to beat Atlanta. If the Hawks want to be taken seriously in the Eastern Conference, they can't lose games like this. 

Atlanta hits the road for their next game against Detroit at 7:30 on Tuesday and that will be the Hawks's first game in the NBA In Season Tournament. 

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