Butler (L) Adebayo (R) Pace Miami Over Brooklyn
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Shara Talia Taylor
The Brooklyn Nets met the Miami Heat for the fourth time this season and lost 96-95 in overtime at Barclays Center Monday night on MLK Day.
Brooklyn fell behind after leading in the first two quarters as Miami returned from halftime with more energy. The Nets were unable to fully match the pace and were less successful with shots.
“The way they responded in the third quarter was a big momentum shift for us, but we responded,” said coach Jacque Vaughn.
Once Miami tied the score at 50 in the third quarter, Brooklyn could not advance beyond a four-point lead, but did not fall behind by more than five-points the remainder of the game. Coach Vaughn knew it would be a challenging matchup. “It’s always tough playing these guys,” said Coach Vaughn during pre-game. “It is a mental battle because you know it is going to be an extremely physical game and that starts with Butler (Jimmy) and that starts with Adebayo (Bam).”
Butler led Miami with 31 points and Adebayo led with 20 total rebounds. Bridges let Brooklyn with 26 points and six assists and Nic Claxton led the Nets with 13 total rebounds.
The Nets performed beautifully, like a dance, in first the half of the game with rebounding and connecting with each other. They played an up-tempo pace, moved in sync and smoothly transitioned from play to play. Brooklyn took off at the start of the game and was ahead 22-16 by the end of the quarter. Bridges led Brooklyn with five points in the first quarter and Butler led Miami with 6 points. The Nets were ahead 45-31 at halftime.
The Heat had more energy in the third quarter. Brooklyn was outscored by Miami 37-24 in the quarter alone, but ended ahead 69-68.
“They made shots and got physical and that’s when the run started,” Bridges said about the change in the third quarter.
Brooklyn made 38% of their attempted field goals and 21% of their 3-pointers in the first quarter alone. Miami made 35% of their field goals and 0% of their 3-pointers. Brooklyn made 38% of their attempted field goals and 33% of their 3-pointers in the third quarter. Miami made 70% of their field goals and 71% of their 3-pointers in the third quarter.
The Heat took a lead in the fourth and the score fluctuated with both teams leading. Bridges made two free throws to tie the score at 88 at the end of the quarter which sent the game to overtime. Both teams fought equally hard in overtime but Miami walked away with the win.
Brooklyn fell behind after leading in the first two quarters as Miami returned from halftime with more energy. The Nets were unable to fully match the pace and were less successful with shots.
“The way they responded in the third quarter was a big momentum shift for us, but we responded,” said coach Jacque Vaughn.
Once Miami tied the score at 50 in the third quarter, Brooklyn could not advance beyond a four-point lead, but did not fall behind by more than five-points the remainder of the game. Coach Vaughn knew it would be a challenging matchup. “It’s always tough playing these guys,” said Coach Vaughn during pre-game. “It is a mental battle because you know it is going to be an extremely physical game and that starts with Butler (Jimmy) and that starts with Adebayo (Bam).”
Butler led Miami with 31 points and Adebayo led with 20 total rebounds. Bridges let Brooklyn with 26 points and six assists and Nic Claxton led the Nets with 13 total rebounds.
The Nets performed beautifully, like a dance, in first the half of the game with rebounding and connecting with each other. They played an up-tempo pace, moved in sync and smoothly transitioned from play to play. Brooklyn took off at the start of the game and was ahead 22-16 by the end of the quarter. Bridges led Brooklyn with five points in the first quarter and Butler led Miami with 6 points. The Nets were ahead 45-31 at halftime.
The Heat had more energy in the third quarter. Brooklyn was outscored by Miami 37-24 in the quarter alone, but ended ahead 69-68.
“They made shots and got physical and that’s when the run started,” Bridges said about the change in the third quarter.
Brooklyn made 38% of their attempted field goals and 21% of their 3-pointers in the first quarter alone. Miami made 35% of their field goals and 0% of their 3-pointers. Brooklyn made 38% of their attempted field goals and 33% of their 3-pointers in the third quarter. Miami made 70% of their field goals and 71% of their 3-pointers in the third quarter.
The Heat took a lead in the fourth and the score fluctuated with both teams leading. Bridges made two free throws to tie the score at 88 at the end of the quarter which sent the game to overtime. Both teams fought equally hard in overtime but Miami walked away with the win.
“You can develop a talent to learn how to win regardless of whether you have rhythm, regardless of whether you’re changing line, rotations, whatever,” said Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra following the game.
The Nets next left for several matchups on the West Coast. It began Wednesday night in Portland before visiting the Lakers and Clippers. They return home January 23rd to face the Knicks.
