Royce O’Neale and the Nets snatched a victory in their last visit to Miami on Nov. 1. The Heat haven’t lost since. AP Photo by Wilfredo Lee
The last time the Nets were in Miami, the Heat were trying to avoid their worst start since the 2007-08 season.
Thursday night at the Kaseya Center, Brooklyn will be out to slow down the NBA’s hottest team.
Seeking their season high-tying third consecutive victory and fourth in five games, the Nets visit Biscayne Boulevard to face a resurgent Miami team that has won its last six games.
“We have a will to win,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said after putting up 21 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 111-105 victory at Charlotte that helped Miami improve to 2-0 in NBA Cup play.
Jimmy Butler poured in a season-high 32 points and Duncan Robinson added 18 for the Heat (7-4), who have scored nearly 114 points per contest during their hot streak, which began two days after they suffered a 109-105 home loss to Brooklyn on Nov. 1 that dropped them to 1-4.
The victory over the Hornets capped a perfect 4-0 homestand for Miami, which has also risen to the top of the Southeast Division.
“We talked at the start of this trip that this month would be an opportunity for us to be able to galvanize around a tough schedule and see if we can become better,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“It’s always harrowing on the road, but we have found different ways to win.”
So have the Nets, who proved it in Miami at the beginning of this month.
G-League call-up Armoni Brooks played the hero off the bench, scoring 17 points in only 16 minutes as Brooklyn overcame a 15-point, first-half deficit.
“That’s the best part of basketball, showing up with who you have and staying together as a team and pulling out a victory on the road against a really good team,” coach Jacque Vaughn said after the…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply