NETS BEAT HEAT, GIVING BIG THREE FIRST WIN TOGETHER
Nets don’t break, beat Heat as super trio gets first ‘W’
The Nets bent, and bent some more, but did not break, beating the Heat, 128-124, in Brooklyn on Saturday. The Miami Heat — without All-Star Jimmy Butler, rising star Tyler Herro, and defensive stopper Avery Bradley —proved a tough challenge for the still-jelling Nets, with both teams playing their second game in two nights. Still, the Heat, tired legs and all, gave the Nets a run for their money. The Nets survived a late-game rally by finding holes in the different zones the Heat used after wiping out a 14-point fourth quarter lead.
Yeah, I think it was one of those games where we could have found a bunch of ways to lose it,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said postgame. “We’re hanging on to our lead, second unit struggled a little bit, we lost that margin, and that’s a tough position when you put your starters back in late in the game when the momentum swung the other way. So I was happy with the character and resolve we showed to make some shots, to play against a different look. That zone, it’s not something you face every day. So, trying to figure it out and stay calm, stay poised, play principles more so than sets. And they, most importantly show the resolve after a tough week to get the win. “
Kevin Durant had fresh legs after sitting out Friday’s game against the Cavaliers. He was the most spry player on the court for Brooklyn, scoring 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field, including one basket late in the fourth quarter, where Durant was standing in the corner next to Heat veteran Udonis Haslem, told Haslem something, then caught the ball, dribbled in, and made a pull-up shot that gave the Nets a 118-112 lead with just over a minute to go.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout, and Haslem hung his head into the hardwood.
The Nets’ star power gave the Heat a lot to hang their head about. Kyrie Irving started the game 4-of-10 shooting from the field, but proceeded to make six of his next seven shots, scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter alone to finish with 28.
“You see how special and talented and hard-working Kyrie is. He works on all of those shots every day, and he comes in with that mentality, especially late in the games, that he can knock those down for us,” said Durant. “So, he’s an all-world player, he’s a great teammate, but when the ball is in his hands late in the game, our team is so unpredictable because he can make a pass, he can score in mid-range, score from the three-point area, get to the basket, and we’ve got weapons around him. It makes us tough to guard. We’re going to need that from him going forward, and he was phenomenal in the fourth.”
James Harden has recorded double-figure assists in each of his first five games as a Net. Harden hasn’t quite found his shooting rhythm, with just eight field goal attempts and two makes on Saturday; he has moved the ball well, but turned it over a lot too.
“I am very confident, especially in this group and what we’re capable of,” said Harden, who finished with 11 assists. “You know, we haven’t had much time to practice, which we keep saying. But I think, learning on the fly and learning while we’re winning is obviously good. You know, we still could’ve played better. We were stagnant a little bit, especially in that second half with their zone. But credit to them. They’re a good team. They got it going.”
And Durant continued his streak of games treating defenders like chairs. It’s hard to contest when a seven-footer is shooting the ball from above his head.
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The Nets’ new Big 3 picked up its first win as a unit, with Durant, Irving and Harden scoring every point in the 4th. It was only their second game together.
The Heat gave the Nets a run for their money without their three best players, and nearly ran away with that money late in the fourth quarter.
Turnovers continue to be a problem. The Nets turned the ball over 17 times to just eight for the Heat.
Interior defense continues to be a problem too. Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 41 points against whichever big or tweener big the Nets assigned him.
The Nets shredded the Heat on the glass, 47-30, showing improvement in rebounding, an area they have struggled this season.
Another area the Nets have struggled with: Winning games against teams with a lesser level of talent.
Brooklyn held on against Miami, but the Heat are a playoff contender that the Nets faced at well below full strength. The Nets are also without Spencer Dinwiddie, who was on the court for pregame workouts shooting jumpers with little elevation. They also have some roster spots open, and if we know anything about Nets GM Sean Marks, it’s that he will fill them.
NETS 128
HEAT 124