Capital match in the race for the Top 6 between Miami and Brooklyn, since the winner of this confrontation would simply leave with 6th place in the Eastern Conference.
We first thought that the Heat, led by Tyler Herro (23 points) or Max Strus (23 points) and victorious in seven of their last ten games, would succeed in making their good form speak for themselves to win at home. . Except that the Nets of the two ex-Suns Mikal Bridges (27 points, 7 assists) and Cameron Johnson (23 points) achieved a second half of high quality to completely overthrow and roll over the Floridians.
Upon arrival, Brooklyn therefore knocks Miami (129-100) down to re-enter the Top 6 and find themselves virtually out of the play-in.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— A great second half for Brooklyn. Already in great shape at the end of the first half, to return to possession thanks to a 14-5 run, the Nets did not lose the rhythm when they returned from the locker room, since they inflicted a… 31-6 (!) to the Heat to attack the third quarter (39-18 overall). From Mikal Bridges to Dorian Finney-Smith, via Spencer Dinwiddie, Cameron Johnson or Nic Claxton, it was just impressive to watch and the collective strike force of Jacque Vaughn’s men completely blew Miami away.
“Miami can blame itself. Leading by a maximum of 14 points, the Heat seemed to be playing their hand and pace in the first half for a long time. Maybe even a little too much, because a feeling of ease was born and prevented Erik Spoelstra’s men from sinking the Nets when they had the chance. As a result, the last two poorly negotiated minutes before the break halted the Florida machine, which exploded on returning from the locker room under the 3-point baskets, offensive rebounds and Brooklyn’s general address. Unable to respond, the South Beach players thus missed a great opportunity to return to 5th place for the Knicks.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅The Brooklyn Holders. In the first half, with his friend Mikal Bridges, a bit clumsier and more used by Jacque Vaughn, the very effective Cameron Johnson was the chief artificer of the Nets to keep them alive against the onslaught of the Heat. But, in the second half, the two ex-Suns were no longer the only ones to float in the New York camp, because Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and Nic Claxton also took advantage of the defensive largesse of the Miami five to convert baskets and increase their points counter. In the end, they together totaled 91 of Brooklyn’s 129 points.
✅ Max Strus. If he certainly calmed down in the second half, because he remained silent there while posting a 0/5 on the shot, difficult not to remember the boiling first half of Strus to launch his team: 23 points in 17 minutes, 9/10 to shoot and 5/6 to 3-pointers! Supported by Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, the Miami substitute made the Brooklyn defense pay off the bench, which left him far too much space behind the arc. At that moment, everything was still rolling for the Heat, but the break changed everything…
⛔The Miami defense. We could have retained a particular player, but we prefer to highlight the defensive weakness of the Floridians. Yes, it’s only one game, moreover in the regular season and two weeks from the end of it, but given its importance, we were entitled to expect a better face from the men of Erik Spoelstra, this side of the floor. Crushed on the offensive rebound, bad on the defensive withdrawal, too often caught up by the whistles of the referees and unable to cut the 3-point line at the Nets, the Heat were therefore weighed down by what is usually one of their strengths.
THE FOLLOWING
Miami (40-35) : trip to Toronto, overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday (1:30 a.m.).
Brooklyn (40-34) : “back-to-back” in Orlando, on the night of Sunday to Monday (00:00).
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