Herro Leads Surging Heat to Third Straight Win

MIAMI — Just a week ago, it felt like the Miami Heat was a lifeless corpse. Now, they are showing signs of life and cohesion, extending their win streak to three games with a 122 to 112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Thursday night at Kaseya Center.

Tyler Herro took the spotlight with a sizzling 36-point performance, shooting 13 of 17 from the field and 4 of 6 from deep, leading the way in one of Miami’s most balanced offensive outings in weeks. The Heat closed their five-game homestand with a 3 and 2 record, a much-needed boost as they gear up for a three-game road trip.

The Heat struggled early on, falling into a 14-point hole just five minutes into the first quarter. The Hawks came out firing, capitalizing on Miami’s slow start and leading by 10 after one. But as has been the case during this newfound stretch of resilience, the Heat did not fold.

Miami exploded for 38 points in the second quarter behind precise ball movement and red-hot shooting, turning the game around with a 17 to 4 run to close the half and take a 60 to 55 lead into the break. Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins combined for 36 first-half points, setting the tone for what would become a dominant second half.

The Heat opened the third quarter with a 19 to 3 burst, stretching their lead to 21 points. The Hawks made a push early in the fourth, trimming the deficit to just five with under three minutes to play. But when Miami needed a response, Herro delivered. His deep step-back three extended the lead back to eight with 2:18 remaining. Wiggins then followed up with a smooth midrange jumper to seal the game.

Miami’s offense was scorching once again, finishing 18 of 33 from beyond the arc, a 54.5 percent clip. It was the second straight game the Heat lit it up from deep, following a historic 17 of 25 showing in their blowout win over Golden State. The win also pushed Miami to 7 and 0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from three.

Adebayo posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Wiggins added 16 points and five boards. Davion Mitchell was another bright spot off the bench, contributing 16 points on 4 of 5 shooting from three, six assists, and relentless defense. Alec Burks, starting in place of the injured Duncan Robinson, chipped in with 11 points and hit three triples of his own.

Though Trae Young gave Miami trouble with 29 points and 12 assists, the Heat’s defense made him work for every basket, especially inside the arc. Young finished just 2 of 3 in the paint, largely limited by Miami’s physical presence and help rotations. The Hawks made a game of it by shooting 43.9 percent from three, but Miami’s offensive rhythm and defensive activity proved too much in the end.

The Heat still sit at tenth in the Eastern Conference standings, but there is a renewed sense of belief. The chemistry is building, and the offense is flowing. With three road games ahead starting in Philadelphia on Saturday, Miami knows the margin for error is thin. But if the past three games are any indication, the Heat might just be heating up at the right time.

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