Entries by Mateo Mayorga

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat fail to pull off comeback in Denver versus the Nuggets

The touring Miami Heat were overmatched by the Denver Nuggets in Jamal Murray’s return, suffering its third straight loss. Nikola Jokić created overreactions for himself and his teammates. Vintage Murray torched the perimeter. And the Nuggets shot 61.7% from the field, including 51.4% from deep.   The Nuggets only needed four minutes of action to […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Kings seize Kaseya Center after halftime ceremony honoring Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jović and Erik Spoelstra

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and the crew failed to stop the Kings from their second-half flurry.   Tyler Herro initiated the offense with 13 first-quarter points. Adebayo finished a lob through the lane and made a putback over Domantas Sabonis. Yet, the squad made the remaining two of 12 shots in the frame and led […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat showed no guts while getting blasted in the second half by the Orlando Magic

The Miami Heat christened Pat Riley Court with a disconcerting loss to the touring Orlando Magic. Shutting down Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, connecting on seven more threes, collecting 16 extra rebounds plus Paolo Banchero busting the Heat’s rear was the difference.  The first half had nine ties and 17 lead changes and the second […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Champion Celtics put Knicks to shame and tie the single-game 3-point record in the season opener

The Champs got their new jewelry, raised their 18th championship banner and outclassed the Knicks in the season opener, unleashing a record-tying 3-point bombardment.    Kristaps Porziņģis was absent for the Celtics as he recovers from surgery on his left leg.    The hosts started off by attacking Karl-Anthony Towns for multiple buckets at close […]