As against the Hornets, the Nets want to impose their strong pace at the start of the game. They steal balls and play hard in transition.
It only works for a while. Bam Adebayo imposes his power inside, the Heat accumulates free throws and takes control. Brooklyn manages to stay in touch with a few winning baskets (32-29).
The Nets were then very clumsy at the start of the second quarter, especially Cam Thomas and Royce O’Neale. Tyler Herro finds the target. There is then up to fifteen points in advance for the Floridians, because their opponent plays disjointed basketball (56-46).
The Nets bench makes the difference
Jacque Vaughn does without Mikal Bridges for the start of the second half. Except that without Spencer Dinwiddie or Cam Johnson in this meeting, the Nets lack offensive weapons. And the return of the winger doesn’t change much because he misses shots from afar.
Cam Thomas weighs more in the third quarter, getting closer to the circle, but it is always via complicated and often forced shots. The Heat keeps control at the start of the last act (83-75).
Everything changes in the last quarter. Armoni Brooks hits twice at 3-points, Trendon Watford brings his energy in defense and also scores behind the arc.
The Nets, carried by the replacements, inflict a 14-3 on the Heat to take the lead. Mikal Bridges and Tyler Herro respond to each other with baskets plus the foul, but then, for long seconds, both teams look for the KO and miss a lot of shots. With forceps, the Nets scored the layups which made it possible to make the gap, the two winning shots from Tyler Herro arriving too late and unable to prevent Brooklyn’s victory (105-109).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Cold snap for Cam Thomas. With his 33 points on average at 61% shooting success, the guard had an excellent start to the season. But he broke his teeth in Miami. Cam Thomas never found the rhythm, losing four balls and constantly forcing. He took few good shots and finished with only 13 points (including 9 in the third quarter) at 4/19 shooting.
– Miami misses its last act. For three quarters, Jimmy Butler and his teammates generally had control of this game. They certainly didn’t kill the match, but they were in control and looked solid. Everything was shattered when conceding this 14-3 at the start of the last act. Then, Erik Spoelstra’s players never managed to find the thread. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo lacked impact and only Tyler Herro, ten points, weighed but, ultimately, he only reduced the gap. As a symbol of this failed start to the season, with now four defeats in a row and last place in the East with this record (1-4).
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
