ATLANTA — There were many signs that the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded players could be in trouble Miami HeatSunday’s Game
Kyle Lowrydue to a left-hamstring strain, was late scratched. The Atlanta Hawks’ defensive anchor Clint CapelaHe made his series debut after a hyperextended right leg. State Farm Arena crowd, still hyped. Trae YoungThe game-winner for Friday’s Hawks on Friday was a fitting way to end a wonderful spring weekend in The A. The Hawks had won 21 of their last 24 games.
Miami won with its defense, winning 110-86 to take a 3-1 advantage over the No. 8-seeded Hawks.
Erik Spoelstra, Heat coach, said that there are “some gnarly competitors” in the locker room who love big challenges.
The game plan for Miami was to control Young and keep the ball under control. The Heat had 14 turnovers in Game 3, and they were playing without Lowry their point guard. They finished the game with seven turnovers compared to Atlanta’s 15. The majority of them came in garbage time, as Miami had only two miscues by the end the third quarter after it had built a lead of 19 points.
The Heat’s zero turnovers in the first half were a playoff franchise record, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Spoelstra stated, “Everyone to a man that was in that locker room understood that we couldn’t have a 15-20 turnover match.” “That was going ignite this crowd, ignite the team, so it was essential that we were very consistent with our execution, without our quarterback.”
Young, last year’s breakout star, struggled against Miami. The fourth-year guard has had a difficult time the entire series. His final victory in Game 3 was heroic, but so is the rest. The Heat held him to nine point on Sunday’s 3-for-11 shooting, with five turnovers. This was similar to his inept efforts in Game 1 (eightpts on 1-for-12 shooting) as well as Game 2 (10 turnovers, and 2-for-10 shooting starting from 3).
Young stated that he has not been as vigilant since high school.
Sunday was Young’s first game in his four-year career, regular season and postseason. All of his points were scored on 3-pointers. Young also failed to make more than one 2-point shot for the first time in his professional career. Young has now had 24 turnovers in the series and only 20 field goals.
Jimmy ButlerHe led Miami with 36 points, shooting 12-for-21, and had 10 rebounds, four assists, and four steals. P.J. Tucker, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, Victor Oladipo, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, Tyler HerroLowry, who has shadowed Young 1-on-1 to this point.
Butler said, “You have to keep your head on a swivel” if you are him.
Tucker scored 14 points, shooting 5-for-7, and had eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Tucker stated that Tucker is too good a scorer for Young not to make him work hard on defense. Tucker posted Young up several times on Sunday.
Vincent (11) and Oladipo (4 assists) were steady starters in Lowry’s place. Oladipo also benefitted from the increased playing time due to Lowry’s absence. In his Miami postseason debut, the former All-Star guard scored six points while shooting 3-for-10. However, he had four assists and more rebound than Capela (eight to sieben).
In the 23 minutes Oladipo spent on the floor, Miami outscored Atlanta 28 to 28.
Spoelstra spoke highly of Oladipo who missed the majority of the previous three seasons due to quadriceps and knee injuries. It’s hard to love that it happens under these circumstances, but because of the energy he gives into it, we knew it would happen. He provided us with some great two-way minutes.”
The Heat can win the series in Game 5 on Tuesday and will play the winner of the Philadelphia/Toronto series in round 2. The 76ers are leading by three points.
Butler said, “Tonight we had a good night, but we got another one we could get.”