Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat folded late in Atlanta

A masterful second half by Tyler Herro wasn’t enough to lift the Heat out of danger. Trae Young and Jalen Johnson went wild against the defense, and the hosts closed the game on a gut-punching 14-5 run.

The Hawks had 35 opening points, including scores on three backdoor cuts. Herro, Bam Adebayo and Haywood Highsmith countered with baskets from long and close range. 

Then Duncan Robinson, Alec Burks and Herro poured in five treys. And Adebayo and Highsmith scored at the rim. The defense forced five turnovers but couldn’t stop Zaccharie Risacher and Johnson from making six shots in the lane.

At halftime, the Heat was down 61-58. The team had 26 paint points, eight on the break, seven via second chances, 10 off turnovers and 15 from the bench. 

The Hawks had 36 paint points, seven on the break, seven via second chances, nine off turnovers and 27 from the bench.  Infamous Heat killer Garrison Mathews also sent his regards with 10 on three of six shots off Atlanta’s bench, and De’Andre Hunter also had 10.

Next, Herro scored 11 points at the line, attacking on the break, Euro-stepping into the lane and nailing a deep triple. Highsmith and Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in multiple baskets apiece, but aside from them, the crew made three of 12 shots. 

For the Hawks, Johnson dribbled and cut his way into the lane for three baskets. Hunter added three of four makes. And Mathews downed two more treys. 

The fourth quarter started with the Heat down 93-84. They got within a point after Herro hit a pull-up triple with four minutes left. To that moment, the crew had made seven of 13 baskets in the period. 

Subsequently, Atlanta went on a 14-5 run, which was supplied by Hunter, Mathews, Johnson and Young to close the game. 

The Heat lost 120-110. The team had 50 paint points, 17 on the break, 12 via second chances, 17 off turnovers and 27 from the bench. 

Herro had 28 points on eight of 15 shots, with seven rebounds, 10 assists and two turnovers. 

Adebayo put up 17 points on 47.1% shooting, with 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks and two turnovers.

And Highsmith had 14 points on six of eight attempts, with six rebounds, two assists and a turnover. 

The Hawks had 56 paint points, 17 on the break, nine via second chances, 12 off turnovers and 59 from the bench. Hunter had 26 off the bench. 

After the game, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “We had some plays where we got them to the last five seconds of the clock and just could not finish… and on the other end, we came up empty.”

Observations:

• Spoelstra rested Herro four minutes to start the fourth, which was a bit too long because he was the team’s main source of offense. He played slightly below 36 minutes. There is nothing wrong with the star breaking 40 every once in a while.

• This was Highsmith’s fourth night of the season making at least six shots.

• The Heat converted 17 of 25 shots in the restricted area and 47.1% in the paint non-restricted area, finishing slightly above average efficiency in both spots.

• The half-court offense generated 97.5 points per 100 plays, good enough for the 53rd percentile of the stat in all games played this season, per Cleaning the Glass.

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