The Miami Heat have been winning games after a sluggish start to the season. On Monday, they defeated the Phoenix Suns at home, 113–112, to extend their winning streak to four games.
Here are a few key Insights from the game:
Kyle Lowry had a big night tonight. He not only scored 15 points to finish, but he also accomplished a remarkable career milestone. Lowry made his first 3-pointer of the game and his career’s 2,000th with two minutes remaining in the second quarter. He is listed as having made the 12th-most 3-pointers in NBA history; This is a tremendous accomplishment for someone who received a lot of harsh criticism. But let’s face it, Lowry’s 3-point shooting accuracy was never in doubt.
The Heat’s defense was something to keep an eye on in this match. Defensively speaking, it could have been their finest game of the year. The Heat had something to prove, with a defensive rating of 112.0 going into this game. For the Suns, Devin Booker had a strong performance. But the Heat made things difficult for him. The Heat double-teamed him at every opportunity, which made him lose the ball. Although he had 25 points, the Heat understood that Booker preferred to shoot threes. He was only permitted to make two 3-pointers.
To win the game, the Heat relied heavily on their defense. Typically, the Heat’s offense and 3-pointers guarantee victories. They needed to block a 3-point shot this time. For the Suns, Booker is the go-to player to win close games. Jimmy Butler was aware of it. At the elbow, he stopped a jumper by Booker. When Butler blocked Booker’s desperate 3-point attempt, he sprinted after the ball and retrieved it. The shot was unsuccessful.
Booker’s limitations in the game made it necessary for other players to set up. Guard Duane Washington, a reserve, is one of the athletes. Washington scored a season-high 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to finish.
Without a doubt, Bam Adebayo has established himself as a fantastic offensive player. After receiving negative feedback for several months, Adebayo opted to step up his offensive game. A hot Adebayo helped the Heat get back into the game toward the end. In the final 8 minutes of the game, he outscored the Suns 12-10 on his own.
The Heat is quickly rising to the league’s top in making impressive comebacks. They have needed to rally for a comeback victory in three games this season. Now, they need to concentrate on ending games quickly rather than waiting till the fourth.