ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks halted a three-game losing streak with a decisive 98-86 win over the Miami Heat on Monday night. Trae Young played a pivotal role, contributing 11 points and a remarkable 14 assists.
Onyeka Okongwu was instrumental with 17 points and eight rebounds, while the dynamic bench duo of Terrance Mann and Caris LaVert chipped in with 15 points each. Dyson Daniel, leading the NBA in steals, showcased his defensive prowess with seven steals, falling just one short of his season record.
The Hawks’ defense was particularly formidable, allowing the fewest points they have conceded since March 14, 2021, when they secured a 100-82 win over Cleveland. This victory propelled Atlanta past Miami into the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Andrew Wiggins led the scoring for Miami with 23 points, but the team faced its sixth defeat in seven games, struggling with long-range shooting, missing 13 out of their first 14 attempts beyond the arc.
Tyler Herro, who had been on fire recently with 40-point performances in two of his last three games, was limited to just 11 points, managing only a 4-for-19 accuracy from the field.
Takeaways from the game highlight Miami’s ongoing struggles, with Head Coach Erik Spoelstra continuously adjusting the team’s rotation in search of a winning combination. Since parting ways with Jimmy Butler to the Warriors on February 5, the Heat holds a 2-6 record.
On the other side, Hawks coach Quin Snyder noted before the game that the team had been performing well but had not been seeing the desired outcomes. The victory over Miami offered a crucial win against a team they might face in future play-in scenarios.
A pivotal moment came with 3:25 left on the clock, as Atlanta’s Young challenged a foul successfully, nullifying two potential free throws for Miami. This set up Mann for a successful 3-pointer, extending the Hawks’ lead to 93-84.
A key statistical highlight was the Hawks’ defensive performance, as they restricted Miami to a season-low 32.1% field goal shooting, a stark contrast to the previous game’s defense against the Pistons, where they allowed a season-high 59.1% shooting.
Looking ahead, the Hawks and Heat are set to face off again on Wednesday in Miami, marking the third of their four encounters this season.
