Nunn’s resurgence helps Heat take down Raptors
The Heat has needed extra help the last two week. For two losses to the Philadelphia 76ers last week, the Heat was down to eight players because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols. For three games back in Florida in the last week, Miami has still been without Jimmy Butler, even as it has neared full strength following COVID-19 concerns. Enter Kendrick Nunn. On Monday, the guard scored a season-high 16 points to power the Heat past the Detroit Pistons in Miami. On Wednesday, he topped it and his 28-point outburst helped the Heat overcome a halftime deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors, 111-102, in Tampa.
Nunn finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists on 9-of-12 shooting with four threepointers, and Miami, still shorthanded because of health protocols and a neck injury for combo guard Tyler Herro, won a second straight after dropping three in a row.
The win even temporarily pushed the Heat
(6-7) back into playoff position and up into sole possession of second place in the Southeast Division.
Two days after his best performance of the season, Nunn was even better in the Monday at Amalie Arena. With All-Star post player Bam Adebayo and guard Goran Dragic struggling, Nunn exploded for 13 points in the second quarter and capped a 16point first half by draining a pull-up 29-foot threepointer with 3:33 left to give Miami a 49-44 lead. Despite a 1-of-5 half for Adebayo, the Heat went into halftime down only 58-56 because of Nunn’s 16 points and Duncan
Robinson’s 12.
The wing gave Miami the initial burst and helped the Heat jump out to an 11-point lead early in the second quarter. Robinson went 3 of 3 from threepoint range in the first quarter and made his only other attempt in the second. The Heat led 29-23 at the end of the first, then Nunn made a layup and hit a three, and shooting guard Max Strus canned another three to give Miami its largest lead at 34-23.