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The Miami Heat won their fifth straight game on Tuesday with a 125-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center to move to 6-1 on the season, matching their best start in franchise history.
Jimmy Butler continues to be a significant factor for the Heat early on this season, but big performances from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo helped Miami overpower Luka Doncic and the Mavs to claim its sixth win of the year.
Notable Player Stats
Jimmy Butler, SF, MIA: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK
Luka Doncic, PG, DAL: 33 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST
Tyler Herro, PG, MIA: 25 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST
Jalen Brunson, SG, DAL: 25 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST
Bam Adebayo, C, MIA: 22 PTS, 13 REB, 1 AST, 2 BLK
Big Nights From Tyler Herro Are Becoming a Theme
The Heat trailed by as many as 11 points in the first quarter, but Butler and Co. chipped away at the deficit and closed out the frame down just 30-24.
Butler led all players in the first quarter with 12 points. However, he didn’t get much production from Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro. The trio combined for just seven points in the opening frame, which is uncharacteristic.
Miami was able to tie things up with 8:04 remaining in the second quarter and eventually took the lead thanks to better performances from Herro and Lowry. Herro entered halftime with 17 points, while Lowry finished with 11 as the scoring load was taken off Butler.
Herro, Lowry and Co. continued to turn up the heat in the third quarter as Miami took a 99-88 lead into the final quarter. However, it was Bam Adebayo who began to shine just after halftime, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds through three quarters.
Herro’s solid play continued in the fourth quarter, and it proved to be a difference-maker on Tuesday night. He was particularly effective from deep, making 3-of-6 shots from three.
The 21-year-old’s big night is just one of many for the former 13th overall pick this season, who is finally looking like the player fans were promised when Miami drafted him out of Kentucky.
Herro entered Tuesday’s contest averaging 22 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from deep.
If Herro can stay consistent this season, Miami will undoubtedly be one of the toughest teams to compete against in the Eastern Conference.
Luka’s Standout Showing Not Enough as Bench Falters
Doncic continued his hot start to the season against Miami on Tuesday night, and the Mavericks received equal production from players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith.
The Mavericks led by as many as 11 points in the opening frame before the Heat cut their lead to 30-24 entering the second quarter. While Doncic led Dallas with eight points in the quarter, Hardaway and Jalen Brunson finished with six points, while Finney-Smith tallied five.
Hardaway and Brunson continued scoring at an equal rate in the second quarter, combining for 12 points. However, Doncic cooled off a bit, allowing Miami to take a 70-62 lead entering halftime.
The Mavs’ starting lineup of Doncic, Hardway, Finney-Smith, Brunson and Dwight Powell played well throughout the night. However, Dallas’ bench scoring was an issue as Reggie Bullock, Sterling Brown, Frank Ntilikina, Willie Cauley-Stein and Boban Marjanovic combined for just 21 points.
Meanwhile, Miami’s bench of Herro, Dewayne Dedmon, Caleb Martin and Markieff Morris combined for 46 points, which proved to be a difference-maker for the Heat.
Miami’s three-point shooting was also far better than Dallas’. The Heat made 13-of-25 shots (52 percent) from deep, while the Mavs made just 14-of-42 shots (34.1 percent).
What’s Next?
The Mavericks will be on the road Wednesday to take on the San Antonio Spurs, while the Heat will be off before hosting the struggling Boston Celtics on Thursday.
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