ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks snapped their three-game losing streak with a decisive 98-86 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 11 points and 14 assists, showcasing his playmaking ability when it was most needed. Onyeka Okongwu made significant contributions to the win with 17 points and eight rebounds, supporting Young’s efforts. The depth of the Hawks' bench was also on display, with Terrance Mann and Caris LeVert each chipping in 15 points. The game marked just the second time this season the Hawks have managed to win when scoring fewer than 105 points, signaling their strong defensive strategy.
The Hawks' defensive performance was stellar, holding the Heat to just 32.1% shooting from the field, which tied the Heat for their lowest scoring performance of the season. For the Hawks, it was their fewest points allowed since March 14, 2021, against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Andrew Wiggins of the Heat was the standout scorer for Miami, netting 23 points. Unfortunately for the Heat, their struggles continued, marking their sixth defeat in seven games. Tyler Herro, who had previously been on a scoring roll, was limited to only 11 points and converted just 4-of-19 attempts from the floor.
Miami's troubles are compounded by recent trades, most prominently the move of All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors on February 5, which seemingly disrupted their rhythm. Coach Erik Spoelstra has been actively seeking the right combination of players and strategies, but results have not reflected the talent on the roster. The Heat’s issues extended to their gameplay, as they missed 13 of their first 14 attempts from beyond the arc and finished the contest with only 7-of-40 shooting on three-pointers, equaling 17.5%.
Despite leading for moments during the game, the Heat could not capitalize on their opportunities. Hawks' coach Quin Snyder mentioned pre-game how his team has been improving, though the results had not shown up on the scoreboard. This time, they broke through against what could be considered future competition for play-in spots.
With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter and the Hawks clinging to a six-point lead, Young was initially called for a foul. Atlanta challenged the call, successfully overturning it and eliminating two potential free throws for Miami. Following this pivotal challenge, Mann hit a three-pointer, significantly extending the Hawks' lead and sealing the victory.
The win allowed the Hawks to move past the Heat, surpassing them to take eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday, this time at Kaseya Center, making it the third of four matchups this season. With Miami currently sitting at 26-30, and Atlanta at 27-31, both teams find themselves vying for positions as the season enters its final stretch.
Miami's next game is viewed as critically important as they aim to stabilize their season. After concluding this three-game road trip with only one win, they will look to find their home rhythm amid returning to Flordia. The upcoming games will be pivotal not just for standings, but for the morale of the players as well.
With playoff spots slowly solidifying, the intensity will ramp up for both the Hawks and Heat as they enter the season's final weeks. Fans of both teams will be eagerly anticipating this rematch, one promising to bring heightened emotions and strategic play as they aim to reclaim their standings.