Back At Cha’!
Eager to play a team that they were walloped by just a week ago at home, the Brooklyn Nets visit to Miami was all about returning the favor and getting a bitter taste out of their mouth.
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Miami Heat 104-92 on Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena to get back into the win column.
D’Angelo Russell scored a team-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, six assists and a career-high four steals in Brooklyn’s win. Russell scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half. It’s the the fifth time the Brooklyn Nets guard has scored 20 or more points in the past seven games.
A low scoring affair in the first half, the scoring ramped up in the second half for both teams as they each scored 35 points in the third quarter.
Brooklyn trailed 78-74 after three, but turned up the intensity on defense against the Miami Vice laden Heat in the fourth.
The Nets would take a eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter behind D’Angelo Russell’s strong push and would shutdown the Heat the rest of the way, outscoring them 30-15 in the period.
Brooklyn had their troubles finding the basket in the first half, but with off-ball action and moving bodies, they would slowly start finding better shot attempts and looks, particularly in the paint where they scored 58 points and got to the free throw line 26 times.
Hassan Whiteside finished with 21 points and 23 rebounds for the Miami Heat, as he was active on the glass and as a scorer with 21 shot attempts.
Miami scored 70 points in the paint last Wednesday when these two teams clashed in Brooklyn, an absurdly high number for Nets to allow.
That game was without Jarrett Allen, who recorded his third straight double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds tonight and played a role in holding the Miami Heat to only 50 points in the paint.
Brooklyn’s defense redeemed themselves from last week’s 120-107 loss to the Miami Heat as they limited Miami to 36 percent shooting from the field and 21.9 percent from beyond the arc.
It’s their third straight victory in Miami over the Miami Heat dating back to last season.
They’ll look to continue their winning ways on the second night of a back-to-back as they visit the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night.
What are your thoughts on Brooklyn’s victory on Tuesday night? Leave your comments below!