MIAMI – The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers 125-120 on Friday night, their second straight home victory following a touch stretch after the All-Star break. While the Heat’s confidence had returned following their win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Bam Adebayo emphasized how another good performance energizes the club.
There is no doubt that many people thought Miami was finished, especially after they dealt Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and Kyle Anderson. After a string of losses that included blowing double-digit leads or executing counterproductive offenses, the club has finally had back-to-back good shooting nights.
Adebayo, who also won a terrific game against the Pacers, told ClutchPoints that games like Friday make “you start to get faith.”
“I mean, we’re always going to have to prove it, which is easier said than done,” Adebayo said after scoring 18 points on eight of 14 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. “But when you come out here and have wins like this, and you start stacking them, you clearly think, ‘Dang, like, we can beat some teams. We can beat some of the teams that have greater standards than us, and you start to get faith, you start to improve, and then everyone gets engaged, and everyone starts to believe.”
Zachary Weinberger
Tyler Herro of the Heat discusses the offense’s output.
The Heat want to elevate their offense to the next level, and Friday was an efficient exhibition, as they shot 57.1 percent from the field and 53.1 percent from three-point range while controlling possession against Indiana. Indiana would be on fire from the start on Sunday, but Miami would turn up the heat in the second half and outlast them, just as they had done to Atlanta the night before.
Tyler Herro, Miami’s lone All-Star, led the way with 29 points, 11 for 25 from the field, three for ten from deep, seven assists, and three rebounds. He would emphasize how other nights the shots did not fall compared to the last few games, and Herro would say that it is just “the game of basketball.”
“I mean, a lot of this revolves around basketball. “It’s just how it goes,” Herro explained. “You know, some nights the shots fall, and some nights they do not. I believe that ultimately, we must be consistent with the shot patterns that we are receiving, as well as the shot profile. We’ve been getting nice shots since the all-star break, and we just want to keep doing it. We have excellent shooters on this team, people who can attack and finish. “It’s important to trust the process and follow the coaches’ instructions.”
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra praises his team’s “great start.”
The Heat’s X-factors, including Davion Mitchell, Haywood Highsmith, Alec Burks, Duncan Robinson, and others, contributed significantly to game-changing second-half surges. Head coach Erik Spoelstra would describe Miami’s locker room as “unselfish,” with everyone wanting their teammate to succeed.
“We want to continue to build on this,” Spoelstra said of the victory. “You know, the more men who can feel sure in their roles, have clarity about it, and can be real threats out there, the better it is for us. We have a locker room that is selfless. Guys want to make plays for each other; everyone in the locker room enjoys seeing their teammate play well, and they want to do all they can to aid their friend; that’s a wonderful place to start. And so, maybe, the clarity will give guys a little more confidence and momentum.”
Tyler Herro on the Heat’s approach amid constant rotation adjustments.
Spoelstra continues to switch up rotations and lineups, as Kel’el Ware, the rookie center who has started the last 17 games, did not start the second half in favor of Burks. Furthermore, the Heat’s young star Jaime Jaquez Jr. sustained a serious ankle injury, which resulted in additional minutes for others on the bench, but Herro believes “it’s by any means necessary.”
“Right now at this point in the season, it’s by any means necessary,” Herro said the crowd. “We’re aiming to win. So Coach Spo saw some things in the first half that he believed he needed to modify for the second half. I don’t believe it’s permanent. We’ll see, but I believe the next game could be different. You know, at this point, we’re trying to win by all means possible. And whatever it takes, we will do.”
At any rate, Miami is presently 28-30, ranking eighth in the Eastern Conference, as they attempt to win three straight games against the New York Knicks on Sunday night.
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