Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dragic soars at high altitude
MEXICO CITY — It was evident by their heavy breathing and more than the usual tugging at the shorts that the Miami Heat were having difficulty with the high-altitude conditions.
They just refused to let it affect the outcome. The Heat more than handled the conditions in a 101-89 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday at Arena Ciudad de Mexico.
They are now 1-1 heading into the finale of this three-game road at Memphis on Monday. Guard Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson led the way with 20 points each.
“Our defensive commitment and disposition on that side of the ball was much better,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “This was a possession game. It turned out to be relatively physical. I thought as the game went on guys were probably more fatigued but we executed better.”
The Nets entered with a built-in advantage, having been in Mexico City a day longer. They arrived Wednesday and defeated Oklahoma City the next day. It provided more time to get acclimated to the altitude, which usually takes a few days to adjust to. Mexico City sits 7,350 feet above sea level, higher than any NBA destination.
The Heat did everything possible to speed the adaptation process, including holding an intense practice dedicated mostly to conditioning Friday. The rotation was also extended to combat stamina and fatigue issues.
“The altitude was really tough,” Dragic said. “My chest felt like it was exploding. It was like having two games in one game. I think Spo did an amazing job rotating the guys early and then to be fresh the whole game.”
For Heat guard Dion Waiters, it was more than the elevation causing problems. He continues to deal with a hyperextension on his right, non-shooting elbow. Waiters wore a protective wrap over it during the first quarter before removing it because of discomfort.
He finished with two points on 1-of-10 shooting.
With Waiters struggling, the Heat had to look elsewhere for scoring. They got it from the bench with Johnson and Justise Winslow, who finished with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
“I think I was just in a rhythm, defensively and offensively,” Winslow said. “I think I got to the point now where I’m really just trusting my skills and all the work I put in, not thinking and just flowing, really.”
It was Winslow’s first double-digit scoring performance since Nov. 17 against the Washington Wizards, a span of nine games. He also blocked a dunk attempt by Nets center Tyler Zeller in the fourth quarter, drawing applause from the 19,777 fans in attendance.
The added production was welcome considering the Heat were playing without center Hassan Whiteside for a fifth straight game because of a bruised knee.
“Granted, it’s nice to see the ball in for those guys because they put so much time into their craft,” Spoelstra said. “They’re both winning players. They find a way to win.”
After trailing 53-50, the Heat grabbed the lead for good in the third quarter behind Dragic and Johnson. A 3-pointer by Dragic and breakaway dunk by Wayne Ellington gave them a 10-point lead with 8 minutes, 18 seconds remaining.
The Nets pulled to within 91-87 with three minutes left after guard Spencer Dinwiddie hit consecutive 3-pointers. The Heat responded with a layup and put-back basket by center Kelly Olynk and James Johnson’s dunk over Nets center Jarrett Allen on the next three possessions to put it away.
“I think it was really big,” Tyler Johnson said. “They’re a good team. Brooklyn, they don’t get a lot of credit in things they are able to do. I think they are second in pace and at this altitude we knew it was going to be tough, them trying to get up and down the court. I thought it was a big-time defensive effort in the second half of the game. The first half I thought offensively we were trending, the second half our defense was back where it needed to be.”