In a decisive win on Friday night, the Brooklyn Nets triumphed over the Miami Heat with a score of 102-86, showcasing a strong defensive performance in the fourth quarter. Cam Johnson led the way for the Nets with 18 points, followed closely by D’Angelo Russell who contributed 17 points to the victory. The Heat, who recently traded star player Jimmy Butler, struggled immensely in the final quarter, managing to score only nine points. During this time, Miami shot a dismal 2 for 21 (9.5%) from the field and found themselves outscored 31-9 after holding a six-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Missing from the Heat’s lineup were Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Davion Mitchell—all part of the trade deal that sent Butler to the Golden State Warriors. Terry Rozier stepped up with a strong bench performance for Miami, scoring 20 points, while Bam Adebayo added 18 points. For Brooklyn, Nic Claxton put together a solid game with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots as the team continued to show resilience despite lacking star players.
Notably absent from the Nets was Ben Simmons, as the team works towards a contract buyout for the former No. 1 draft pick. The absence of key players seemed to affect Miami significantly, especially given Butler’s previous role as a reliable finisher for the Heat. Tyler Herro, who is an All-Star, faced difficulties, finishing the night with a shooting performance of 6 for 22.
A critical moment in the game occurred early in the fourth quarter when Jaime Jaquez Jr. made a basket on Miami’s initial shot of the period, bringing the score to 79-71 within 14 seconds. However, that proved to be Miami’s last field goal until they finally managed a 3-pointer from Rozier with 7:02 remaining, resulting in a prolonged drought for the Heat.
Statistically, the Nets dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Heat 57-39, a clear indicator of their control in the paint.
Looking ahead, Miami will host Boston on Monday in what will be their first home game in a lengthy nine-game stretch, while the Nets prepare to welcome Charlotte on the same day.
