Photo via Miami Heat
The Miami Heat entered Thursday’s game seeking a seventh consecutive win. The last they lost? Against the Brooklyn Nets, who was their opponent again on Thursday. Miami struggled early in the game on offense. The ball wasn’t moving, and Miami was forced to take tough shots. But Miami would get better as the game went on. They went on a 14-0 run to finish the first half. Brooklyn made it interesting late, but Miami closed the game in the end. With the win, Miami moves to 8-4 for the season. Here are my takeaways from Thursday’s win over the Nets.
Himmy Butler
Jimmy Butler started off the season cold. But recently, it seems like Butler is starting to get more engaged. And he showed it again in the first half. With Miami struggling with their shots, Butler took it upon himself to look to score. He punished the Nets defenders in the paint either through the post or forcing the foul. Additionally, he made them pay from beyond the arc. Butler knocked down two triples in the first half, even letting the Nets know he shoots 50 percent from there. You usually don’t see Butler triples this early in the season, but they have been a welcome sight for a struggling Heat offense. He was even better in the third period, where he scored 18 points. Butler finished the night with 36 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
Duncan Robinson’s All-Around Game
It was another good all-around game for Duncan Robinson. Robinson, who was out of the rotation last year, has been a great addition to the rotation this season. Before, he was just a stand-still shooter who often got in foul trouble. However, that’s changed this season. The Heat forward has defended well without fouling and he’s impacting the game in other areas besides shooting. In addition to the Heat’s stars, Robinson has had moments where he’s been the playmaker for Miami. He’s done a good job of reading the defense and finding the open teammates. Robinson finished with 26 points on 6-of-10 shooting from downtown.
Caleb Martin Returns
After missing 10 straight games with his knee injury, Caleb Martin was back in the rotation. Martin looked like a player who hasn’t missed a beat. He knocked down his first three-pointer of the season on his first shot of the game. Martin looked very comfortable out there. He even brought out one of his famous three-point celebrations. Martin finished the night with six points in limited minutes. Of course, he ended up getting a technical foul for it. Martin’s addition also allowed Miami to test a new lineup. Miami went with an intriguing lineup of Josh Richardson, Martin, Robinson, Jaime Jaquez, and Bam Adebayo. Lots of versatility on both ends with that lineup. The lineup pushed Miami’s led to 15 in the fourth period.
Back on the Road
Now, the Heat are headed back on the road, where Miami will be away for nine days. The Heat will be playing five games, with the first road game being in Chicago. This new road trip will present a good challenge for Miami. They play the Chicago Bulls twice, the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and these same Nets. Expect a couple of those games to be a defensive battle. Still, Miami appears ready for the challenge, and they are slowly getting healthier with Martin back now. Miami would look to have similar success to their last road trip.
Next up: The Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The game tips off at 8pm eastern time.
