End of series for the Heat, who remained on four wins in a row but were unable to emerge victorious from their trip to Salt Lake City. In a tight match until the start of money time, it was ultimately the collective of Jazzmen who made the difference against the Herro-Adebayo tandem (25 and 27 points).
The Jazz returned to the locker room leading by a small point after a balanced first half (54-53), with Tyler Herro as offensive leader on one side and Collin Sexton on the other, at 16 points each.
Dominant in the paint (38 to 22 in the first half), like the dunks of Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton to take the lead just before the break, the Jazzmen continued to stand up to the Heat after returning from the locker room.
First there was a 10-2 fueled by Collin Sexton and Simone Fontecchio then six points from Keyonte George to put Utah back in the lead (75-73). Then we had to respond to 3-pointers from the Robinson-Herro-Love trio to stay in the game at the end of the third quarter, with Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk as reinforcements (88-88).
The fight remained intense and indecisive until the end, like the distance duel between Jamal Cain and John Collins, author of two 3-point baskets to respond to the 6 points of the Florida rear (96-96) .
In money time, Keyonte George lit the fuse with a lay-up and a 3-pointer. Despite a new outside basket on its part (108-100), Miami managed to return to -2 thanks to the Herro-Jaquez-Highsmith trio before cracking for good following two new 3-point baskets from Jazz, signed Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen (114-106).
With 17 seconds remaining, after a final block from Simone Fontecchio on Jaime Jaquez Jr, Collin Sexton had the necessary composure on free throws to fold the game and seal the victory, 117 to 109, the ninth of the season at home for the Jazz.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Hello from Kelly Olynyk. Heat player from 2017 to 2021, the Jazz interior recalled good memories of his former team by scoring 19 points, with 6 rebounds and 10 assists coming off the bench! This is one of his most complete matches of the season. He was the perfect role player, improving the game while being efficient. He even scored an important basket in the money-time, all while touching.
– Keyonte George, the lethal weapon. The Jazz rookie was having a good day and his three 3-point baskets in the last quarter, during a close match until then, really hurt the Heat. Author of 12 of his 21 points in the last act, the back was the X factor of “money-time”.
– Miami too diminished. Already deprived of Josh Richardson and Caleb Martin, Erik Spoelstra once again had to deal without Kyle Lowry, and was deprived of Jimmy Butler after six minutes in the third quarter, due to a right foot injury which left him prevented him from taking part in the rest of the meeting. It was undoubtedly too much for Miami which ended up faltering on hostile ground.
