While Jimmy Butler is stuck at home in Miami, his teammates are regaining color as they win last night in Portland, for a 3rd victory in a row. Once again, Tyler Herro took on the role of boss, and with the exception of a big air gap in the 3rd quarter, the Heat had a very quiet evening.
It was also Herro who allowed Miami to make the first break in the first quarter with a 7-0 to take an eight-point lead (23-15). It’s basketball hurray, with trash on both sides like Deni Avdija’s missed dunk, but also spectacle with counterattacks and fast play. We don’t get bored and even if it’s a pace that seems to suit the young Blazers better, it’s Miami that is doing the best with its outside skill.
The proof with Duncan Robinson, who starts the second quarter with a new award-winning basket, followed by an alley-oop pass from Bam Adebayo (36-25). Opposite, the Blazers are stuck in the Heat zone, and the absence of Deandre Ayton takes away their main anchor point. The Blazers want to run but the Heat have control over the tempo, and it’s the turn of Nikola Jovic then Terry Rozier to punish with 3-points (52-39).
Even if Portland signs the best collective action of the first half with Donovan Clingan at the conclusion, the 3-points follow one another and at the break, the Heat leads 66-48 with already 13 winning baskets.
The Heat yo-yo
Returning from the locker room, Anfernee Simons gets angry, and in her wake, the Blazers score a 16-2. Their speed forces the Heat to defend by retreating, and in five minutes, they are three units behind Miami again (70-67). In Miami, we don’t panic. The Adebayo-Herro duo stops the bleeding, and Nikola Jovic gives them a helping hand in attack.
The gap returns to 10 points (87-77), and Anfernee Simons is looking for a teammate to add to the score. Shaedon Sharpe replaces him, but the Heat have clearly regained their distance (94-83).
Straddling the two quarters, the Heat went 11-0 to take a 17-point lead. But Portland doesn’t give up, and as soon as Anfernee Simons comes back into play, he launches a 10-0 to maintain the suspense (100-93). As in the 3rd quarter, Adebayo and Herro calm them down, and it is Donovan Clingan’s flagrant foul that ends Portland’s hopes. At the start, a long shot from Herro, Clingan hinders him, but lands at his feet.
It’s dangerous, and the referees whistle a Flagrant I, which Tyler Herro transforms into free throws. The gap returned to 15 points, and the Blazers did not recover as they lost 119-98.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– An iron defense. Three victories in a row, and three matches without conceding 100 points. With his zone defense, or rather his zone defenses, Erik Spoelstra thwarts the opposing plans, and his players become masters of the tempo.
– Clingon imposed. He’s not Victor Wembanyama but Donovan Clingan is a real bully. Several times, we saw the Heat think twice before attacking the circle. The rookie finished with 8 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. But also a basket against his camp…
– Scoot Henderson transparent. Substitute, the leader is too irregular to become a major element of the Blazers, and each entry into play is problematic in his shot selection or his risk-taking.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Related News :