Bam Adebayo scored 26 points with 17 rebounds and rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added a career-high 20 points as the short-handed Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-109 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory.
Miami was playing its first game since leading scorer Tyler Herro sprained his right ankle in Wednesday night’s 108-102 victory at Memphis. Herro is expected to miss at least two weeks. Another top scorer, Jimmy Butler, missed the game against Atlanta for personal reasons.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said he received a strong indication during a pregame meeting that the players were eager to fill the void left by Herro and Butler when he informed the team “we were going to having to ask some guys to step in.”
Spoelstra added: “Everyone was leaning forward with body language saying ‘It’s me’.”
The Heat showed their depth in finding scores from different sources.
Kyle Lowry scored 17 points and Josh Richardson had 16, also a season high. Duncan Robinson scored 11 points in his first start of the season. Kevin Love had seven points.
Jaquez, making his third start, nearly doubled his previous record of 11 points against Memphis.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say you have to score,” Jaquez replied when asked how he sees his role in the new formation. “I would say just make plays.”
The emergence of different scorers was no surprise to Spoelstra, who said before the game that he had “a lot of guys champing at the bit to get more minutes.” … The guys are ready.”
Trae Young led Atlanta with 27 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and 11 assists. Dejounte Murray had 23 points. Each guard attempted nine 3-pointers, but coach Quin Snyder wasn’t happy with his team’s 18-of-46 shooting from long range.
“We had a good look that we didn’t take,” Snyder said.
Young added: “We just have to shoot the ball. When we catch the ball, let’s shoot it. Do not hesitate.
Young said Miami’s defense “will make you think you have a driving lane and other guys are out there to help you.” If you’re not prepared to shoot 3s against this team, you’re going to have a tough night.
Jaquez, UCLA’s first-round pick, hit a 3-pointer to close the first half, giving Miami a 63-52 lead.
Miami led by 21 late in the first half. Atlanta’s last lead was 5-4.
The Hawks averaged 121.8 points per game, third in the league. It was the best eight-game average for the franchise since the St. Louis Hawks averaged 117.5 at the start of the 1960-61 season.
Hawks guard Wesley Matthews (right calf) made two 3-pointers in the third quarter and scored seven points in his first game of the season. Matthews’ father, Wesley Matthews Sr., played a total of 152 games with Atlanta (1980-83, ’84 and 1990). They become the first father-son duo to play for the Hawks.
The Hawks debuted their Fly City Edition uniform which included the blue accent used in their first Atlanta uniform in 1968.
FOLLOWING
Miami: Continues its four-game road trip at San Antonio on Sunday night.
Atlanta: Visits Detroit Tuesday evening.
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