The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Boston Celtics , 123 - 116 , at Philips Arena on Thursday . These are two teams battling for playoff positioning and it was evident by the final scoreline . Despite Atlanta leading by 20 at times in the third quarter , Boston fought back and made it a close game . Rebounding was key for the Hawks , as they outrebounded the Celtics , 52 - 38 . Atlanta also shot well , hitting 49 percent of their shots , while holding Boston to just 41 percent from the field . The Celtics ( 50 - 29 ) have now lost two - straight games , as the top - spot in the east is slowly slipping away . Isaiah Thomas did all he could for Boston , as he accumulated 35 points , five rebounds and four assists . Jae Crowder totaled 24 points and four rebounds . Avery Bradley amassed 17 points , four rebounds and two steals . Marcus Smart was huge off the bench , providing 18 points , four rebounds , seven assists , six steals and two blocks . On deck for the Celtics is a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday . The Hawks ( 40 - 38 ) needed this win after losing nine of their last 11 games and they came out hot to keep a hold on to the five - seed in the east . Paul Millsap was the player of the game , as he contributed 26 points , 12 rebounds , four assists and two steals off the bench . Tim Hardaway Jr finished with 23 points , five rebounds and five assists . Taurean Prince tallied 20 points , seven rebounds and four assists . Dennis Schroder collected 18 points , four rebounds and five assists . The next matchup for Atlanta is tough , as they have a road game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday .


The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers , 126 - 125 , in overtime at Philips Arena on Sunday . In this potential playoff preview , Cleveland suffered an incredible collapse . In fact , they led by 26 headed into the fourth quarter , but allowed Atlanta to outscore them 44 - 18 in the final quarter to send it to overtime . Despite the Cavaliers leading for most of the overtime , Atlanta finished the game on a 15 - 9 run to comeback yet again and win . Scoring in the paint was the only real advantage for the Hawks , as they won that battle , 58 - 48 . Their bench was huge as well , outscoring Cleveland 's bench , 44 - 16 . The Cavaliers ( 52 - 28 ) simply fell apart in this game and it 'll go down as their worst loss of the season . LeBron James picked up his 15th triple - double of the year though , collecting 32 points , 16 rebounds and 10 assists before fouling out in overtime . Kyrie Irving led the team in scoring , accruing 45 points , two rebounds and nine assists . Kevin Love finished with 11 points , 15 rebounds and five assists . Channing Frye started and totaled 12 points and eight rebounds . On deck for the Cavaliers is a road matchup versus the Miami Heat on Monday . The Hawks ( 41 - 39 ) had one of their greatest comebacks in franchise history here , as they 've now handed the Cavaliers back - to - back devastating losses . Paul Millsap returned to his starting role to provide 22 points , nine rebounds and two assists . Dwight Howard amassed 19 points , five rebounds and two assists on 9 - of - 12 shooting . Tim Hardaway Jr. accumulated 21 points , nine rebounds and four assists . Kent Bazemore was a nice spark off the bench , contributing 13 points , two rebounds , four assists and four steals . Mike Muscala also played well off the bench , dropping 12 points , five rebounds and four assists . Atlanta will look to keep rolling on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets .


The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Charlotte Hornets , 103 - 76 , at Philips Arena on Tuesday night . The Hawks ( 43 - 28 ) came into Tuesday 's contest knowing they held their fate in their own hands with respect to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference . With a victory over a short - handed Hornets ( 36 - 46 ) squad that had nothing except spoiler aspirations remaining , Atlanta was guaranteed the spot . They made sure to take care of business from early on , jumping out to a 38 - 26 first - quarter lead and expanding their advantage to 63 - 44 by halftime . With the double - digit edge , no Hawks starter had to play more than 26 minutes and an eight - man second unit combined for 49 points . Atlanta posted a 52 percent success rate from the field while limiting Charlotte to 33 percent . The Hornets bench also had a productive night and Jeremy Lamb actually led all scorers on the night with 21 points , which he supplemented with five rebounds , one assist and two steals . Briante Weber and Treveon Graham contributed 10 points apiece off the second unit as well , with the former adding three assists and one steal and the latter supplying four rebounds , one assist and two steals . Michael Kidd-Gilchrist matched their scoring total and provided six rebounds , one assist and one steal . Marvin Williams totaled seven points , six rebounds and two steals . Dwight Howard led the way for Atlanta with a 19 - point , 12 - rebound double - double that also included one assist and one block . Paul Millsap was next with 10 points and seven rebounds . Ersan Ilyasova matched Millsap 's scoring total off the bench and added six boards and two assists . Tim Hardaway , Jr. offered nine points , five rebounds and three assists . Dennis Schroder had a near double - double of eight points , nine assists , three rebounds and one steal . Taurean Prince also had eight points and complemented them with one rebound , one assist and one steal . Kent Bazemore and Mike Muscala had matching eight - point contributions off the bench as well . The Hornets have wrapped up their regular season , while the Hawks wrap up theirs in Indiana against the Pacers on Wednesday evening .


The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat in their home opener , 97 - 91 , at American Airlines Arena on Friday . The contest was truly a tale of two halves , with the Heat unable to sustain a red - hot start coming out of intermission . Miami ( 1 - 1 ) carried a 57 - 46 lead into halftime , but Charlotte 's bench caught fire in the second half , propelling the Hornets ( 20 ) to a 51 - 34 advantage over the final two quarters . Four reserves - - Spencer Hawes , Marco Belinelli , Jeremy Lamb and Cody Zeller - - posted double - digit scoring efforts , helping make up for an unbalanced performance from the first unit that featured only one tally of over 20 points . The Hornets ' defense was also key , as they took the ball away from the Heat 20 times , leading to 22 points , while only committing eight turnovers themselves . Kemba Walker paced the visitors with 24 points , four assists , a rebound and two steals . Nicolas Batum was the only other member of the first unit to reach double digits in the scoring column , collecting 12 points and adding six rebounds , four assists and two steals . Marvin Williams did manage to haul in 11 boards despite contributing a modest seven points , an assist , two steals and a block . Roy Hibbert left the game after five minutes on the court with a sore right knee , going scoreless over his brief stint . Lamb 's 16 - point , eight - rebound performance led the bench , while Belinelli ( 12 points ) , Zeller ( 10 points ) and Hawes ( 10 points ) made key contributions as well . Hawes also came just one rebound short of a double - double and added two assists and two blocks . The Heat were led by a trademark Hassan Whiteside double - double ( 20 points , 15 boards ) and he also recored a pair of blocks . Goran Dragic came within an assist of accomplishing the feat himself , tallying 14 points , nine dimes , four rebounds and a steal . Dion Waiters totaled 13 points , seven rebounds , three assists and a steal . Justise Winslow contributed 10 points , six rebounds and five assists , but struggled from the field , going just 4 - for - 14 overall and 1 - for - 6 from three - point range . Tyler Johnson paced the Miami bench with 12 points and six rebounds . The Hornets head back home to take on the Celtics on Saturday night , while the Heat remain home to take on the Spurs on Sunday .

The Hornets overcame their first unit 's sluggish night on offense with a stellar effort from their bench in a win against the Heat . Jeremy Lamb , Marco Belinelli , Spencer Hawes and Cody Zeller all hit double digits in the scoring column , helping make up for the starters ' 46 - point tally . More than half that total was amassed by Kemba Walker , who managed 24 points . Nicolas Batum was the only other starter to register double - digit scoring , supplying 12 points . The Heat greatly benefited from a trademark 20 - point , 15 - rebound double - double from Hassan Whiteside , but also saw him , Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow all turn the ball over four times each . In all , the Heat were guilty of 20 turnovers , leading to 22 points for the Hornets . Conversely , they only prompted eight turnovers in their own right , leading to the evaporation of a 57 - 46 halftime lead .


The San Antonio Spurs remained undefeated in their 106 - 99 win over the host Miami Heat on Sunday at American Airlines Center . In a game that was tight throughout , the more veteran squad prevailed . San Antonio ( 40 ) dominated the shooting , as it hit 56 percent of its three - pointers and 86 percent of its free - throws . Despite tying in defensive rebounds , San Antonio was able to win the offensive rebounding margin 14 - 6 . Miami ( 1 - 2 ) did dominate down low , though , outscoring the Spurs 46 - 32 in the paint . Another key for the Spurs was their ability to score off turnovers , as they won that battle 21 points to 10 . Kawhi Leonard was the star for the Spurs once again , tallying 27 points and six assists . The reigning two - time Defensive Player of the Year scored the final 10 points for the Spurs and accumulated 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter . Pau Gasol was the only other starter in double figures , totaling 20 points and 11 rebounds in his first double - double of the year . In fact , their three other starters combined for just 16 points in the win . Patty Mills did provide 18 points off the bench but failed to record any other fantasy - relevant stats in 25 minutes of action . Four Heat players scored in double figures in their loss , but no one else did much of anything . In fact , the other five players combined for just 17 points . Hassan Whiteside carried the load for the Heat , contributing 27 points , 15 rebounds and four blocks in the loss . Goran Dragic was second - highest scorer , adding 25 points of his own , while adding five assists and three boards . Justise Winslow had a nice game , as well , totaling 18 points and five rebounds . Tyler Johnson was the only bench player to score more than two points , as he chipped in 12 in 30 minutes of play . Both teams return to action on Tuesday , as the Spurs host the Utah Jazz and the Heat host the Sacramento Kings .

San Antonio became the first team to four wins in this game , and its 30 road record is the best mark in the league through the early stages of the season . Despite playing without LaMarcus Aldridge , the Spurs still got near double - doubles from veterans David Lee and Dewayne Dedmon . The pair combined for 17 points and 19 rebounds in 40 minutes of play . After failing to play more than 21 minutes in any of his three previous games , Pau Gasol was able to record his first double - double in a Spurs uniform in 31 minutes of action in the win . Tony Parker 's struggles continued , though , as he 's yet to score in double figures or hand out more than four assists in any game this season . Aside from Tyler Johnson , the Miami bench accumulated just two points , six rebounds and four assists between three players . Three-point shooting was huge for the Spurs , as they took two fewer three - pointers than the Heat but made three more . These two teams will meet again in just over two weeks , as they are scheduled for a November 14 rematch in San Antonio .


The Miami Heat defeated the Sacramento Kings in overtime , 108 - 96 , at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday . The Heat ( 2 - 2 ) utilized an impressive night from three - fifths of their first unit and a strong defensive effort in overtime to overcome a pair of 30 - point efforts from Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins and notch their 15th consecutive win at home over Sacramento ( 2 - 3 ) . The hard - fought victory came after Miami blew an 80 - 71 advantage in the final six minutes of regulation . However , Cousins fouled out with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter , making the path to an eventual win a bit easier for the Heat . Tyler Johnson was particularly effective in the extra period , tallying seven points to help put Sacramento away . Cousins added seven rebounds , four assists and a block to his point total . Gay was even more impressive , hauling in 12 rebounds and adding an assist and a steal while also taking a team - high 24 shots . Arron Afflalo had his best game yet in his new Sacramento digs , collecting 18 points , three rebounds and a steal . Those three players provided the majority of the offense , however , as Matt Barnes and Ty Lawson notably combined for just two points ( from Barnes ) on 1 - for - 13 shooting . Goran Dragic paced Miami with his second consecutive 25 - point game , and he added eight rebounds , eight assists , two blocks and two steals . Dion Waiters totaled 20 points , four rebounds , four assists , two blocks and a steal , as he continues to serve as a solid source of scoring for the Heat . Hassan Whiteside become only the second player in franchise history to start a season with four straight double - doubles by posting 14 points , 11 rebounds , two blocks and a steal , while Luke Babbitt pitched in with 10 points , a rebound and a steal . Johnson 's 22 points led the bench , and he added four rebounds , two assists , two steals and two blocks . The Kings next make the trip upstate and pay a visit to the Orlando Magic on Thursday , while the Heat head north to Toronto to take on the Raptors in a Friday night showdown .

By losing LeBron James , Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade the last two offseasons , the Heat has seen a large chunk of offense head out the door . However , Goran Dragic , Dion Waiters and Hassan Whiteside are doing an impressive job filling the void in the first four games . Gragic tallied a second straight 25 - point effort Tuesday , Waiters had his first 20 - point outing in a Heat uniform and Hassan Whiteside tied a franchise record with a fourth consecutive double - double to open the season . Tyler Johnson 's 22 points off the bench , seven of which came in overtime , marked a season high . The Kings were led by 30 - point efforts from DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay , but those efforts were partly undermined by the inefficiency of Matt Barnes and Ty Lawson , who combined for just two points on 1 - for - 13 shooting .


There was n't a whole lot to separate these two teams , as there were 19 lead changes and 14 ties in this Eastern Conference battle . No team led by more than eight points either , with neither team letting up at any point . Many of the statistics were very even , as they were nearly tied in rebounds , assists , turnovers and points in the paint . Despite Jimmy Butler , Robin Lopez , Rajon Rondo , Doug McDermott and Dwyane Wade all shooting below 50 percent , they all scored at least 13 points in the win . The 16 points and 12 rebounds for Rondo marked his second double - double in a Chicago uniform . Strangely enough , he 's yet to reach double - digit assists in any game this season , after leading the league in that category last year . Hassan Whiteside 's 20 points and 20 rebounds looks even more impressive when you consider the Bulls are the second - best rebounding team in the NBA .

The Chicago Bulls defeated the host Miami Heat 98 - 95 at American Airlines Arena on Thursday . In a battle between two Eastern Conference mainstays , there was n't a whole lot to separate these two squads . There were actually 14 ties and 19 lead changes in this tightly contested battle , with no team leading by more than eight points . The key for Chicago was the free - throw shooting , as they went 18 - of - 20 , while Miami went just 10 - of - 15 . Three-point shooting kept the Heat hanging around , as they went 13 - of - 29 , with the Bulls hitting just 6 - of - 16 . Chicago ( 5 - 4 ) came into this losing four of five , but they showed some resiliency in an important road win . Six of the nine players who took the floor for the Bulls scored in double figures . Jimmy Butler led the team , with his 20 points , four rebounds , five assists and three steals . Rajon Rondo had one of his best games in a Chicago uniform , tallying 16 points , 12 rebounds and six assists . Robin Lopez also finished with 16 , adding nine boards as well . Dwyane Wade shot just 5 - of - 17 against his former team , but finished with 13 points , seven rebounds and four assists . The Bulls will host the Washington Wizards for their next game on Saturday . Miami ( 2 - 5 ) has gotten off to a rough start , but this was a great performance despite the loss . Hassan Whiteside carried the load , as he finished with 20 points and 20 rebounds in a dominating performance . Dion Waiters and Josh Richardson were second on the team , as they scored 16 a piece . Justise Winslow accumulated 15 points , five rebounds , six assists and four steals . Goran Dragic struggled and left early due to an ankle injury , finishing with six points and four assists in just 22 minutes of play . Miami returns to action on Saturday , when they host the Utah Jazz for their next game .


These are two teams going in opposite directions and the Jazz showed what makes them so tough . Utah forced Miami to shoot 30 percent from three - point range and held them to just 80 shot attempts . Despite losing Derrick Favors in this game to renewed knee soreness , Utah was able to piece things together using a small lineup . Gordon Hayward continued his great form , as his 25 points and nine boards marked the fifth - straight game with at least 20 points and five rebounds . Miami 's bench was the only thing keeping them around in this game , as they outscored the Utah bench 49 - 32 . With Goran Dragic out of the lineup due to an ankle injury , the Heat got very little guard production . In fact , Tyler Johnson , Josh Richardson and Dion Waiters combined to shoot 9 - of - 27 in this defeat . Richardson did play a season - high in minutes though , as he seems to be fully recovered from his knee injury .

The Utah Jazz defeated the host Miami Heat 102 - 91 at American Airlines Center on Saturday . Utah is the far superior team coming into this matchup and they showed that by leading for over 45 minutes of this game . They actually led by 21 at times and held the Heat at bay all evening long . Free-throw shooting was the biggest difference , with Utah going 16 - of - 19 , while Miami went just 10 - of - 19 . The Jazz shot 49 percent in their win and committed just nine turnovers . Strangely , the Heat dominated the assisting margin , as they recorded 21 dimes to the Jazz ' 12 . Utah ( 7 - 4 ) continues to ride their defense to wins , but they may have suffered a bigger loss in this victory . Derrick Favors recently returned from a knee injury , but he had to leave this game after five minutes due to renewed knee soreness . Gordon Hayward stepped up in his absence though , leading the team with 25 points , nine rebounds and four assists . Rodney Hood was second on the team , with his 17 points and four rebounds . Rudy Gobert recorded another double - double , totaling 12 points , 12 rebounds and two blocks . Dante Exum and Joe Johnson finished with 10 a piece in the win . The Jazz will look to keep it rolling on Monday , when they host the Memphis Grizzlies for their next game . Miami ( 2 - 6 ) has really struggled recently and a battle against Utah 's defense certainly was n't the cure . Hassan Whiteside played well though , totaling 15 points , 14 rebounds and two blocks in the defeat . Justise Winslow grabbed 11 points and six rebounds of his own . The bench was big for Miami , as James Johnson , Derrick Williams and Rodney McGruder all scored in double figures . More importantly , Josh Richardson played a season - high 32 minutes and took a season - high 16 shots , finishing with 12 points , three rebounds and four assists . Things do n't get any easier for Miami either , as they travel to play the San Antonio Spurs on Monday for their next game .


Injuries have led to Dion Waiters playing a much bigger role in Miami to start the season than the team originally planned , and while he 's already had five double - digit scoring performances , his efficiency has been subpar . His performance Tuesday night was yet another example , as Waiters shot just 5 - of - 18 from the field ( 28 percent ) . That marks the seventh time this season where the shooting guard has shot under 33 percent from the field , and he is shooting a horrid 31 percent overall . On the other side of the ball , Hawks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has seen a small reemergence in his fourth NBA season , as the former Michigan star 's 15 points on Tuesday marked the fourth time he 's reached that total this season . He scored 15 points just four times all of last season , but has now become a crucial part of the Atlanta bench , averaging 13 points per game so far .

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Miami Heat , 93 - 90 , at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday . Despite the victory , the Hawks ( 8 - 2 ) did not get off to the best start against a depleted Heat ( 2 - 8 ) squad . Atlanta struggled to get a lead over Miami and did n't pull ahead until there was just over two minutes left in the second period . From there , it was a game of runs as the teams traded leads before the Hawks were able to hold off one last push of desperation by Miami . Atlanta did , however , lose Dwight Howard late in the third quarter , as he left the game with a left quad contusion and did not return . He did still manage to finish with a double - double of 11 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes . In the end , Dennis Schroder led the way for Atlanta , scoring 18 points and dishing out four assists , while Paul Millsap , who ended up playing a solid dose of minutes at the center position , posted 15 points , six rebounds , four assists and two steals Tuesday night . For the Heat , it was yet another dominant performance from center Hassan Whiteside , who finished with 19 points and 25 rebounds en route to his ninth double - double of the season . Josh Richardson matched Whiteside 's 19 points in 38 minutes , as he looks to be fully healthy after missing the start of the season with a knee injury . Dion Waiters , however , who is filling in as the team 's starting point guard with Goran Dragic ( ankle ) out , struggled from the field , shooting 5 - of - 18 and scoring just 11 points . Justise Winslow also missed Tuesday 's game with a wrist injury . Up next , the Hawks will look to keep rolling at home against Milwaukee on Wednesday , while the Heat will look to turn things around against the Bucks on Thursday .


Hasan Whiteside truly rounded out the stat sheet in an impressively difficult matchup with the lengthy Milwaukee Bucks . It was only the third time this season that the Miami Heat were able to capture a win , and currently own a weak 3 - 8 record . The Bucks threw some curveballs at Whiteside , but no matchup proved to be too much after posting a final line of 12 points , 17 rebounds , seven blocks and two steals on 5 - of - 12 shooting . Goran Dragic ( ankle ) contributed a fine game in his return to the starting lineup and added 16 points , six rebounds and four assists , while Jason Richardson and Dion Waiters joined them in double figures . The bench was led by Tyler Johnson , who added eight points and eight rebounds , to go along with five assists on 3 - of - 8 shooting , including one three - pointer .

The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks , 96 - 73 , at American Airlines Arena on Thursday . The length of the Bucks ( 5 - 6 ) caused some issues early on for the Heat ( 3 - 8 ) , but the Heat pushed through it and turned to their big man Hassan Whiteside on both ends of the court to finish the job at home . It was only the third win of the season for Miami , but the starters rounded out the scoring sheet , as only Derrick Williams finished below double figures . Goran Dragic ( ankle ) started the game after successfully going through practice and shootaround , while sophomore Justice Winslow ( wrist ) was ruled out . The neck - and - neck game was close all the way up until the fourth quarter , but the Bucks simply ran out of steam and had a handful of bad breaks , even after an all - around performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo . The Greek Freak finished with 14 points , seven rebounds , four assists and three blocks , while Jabari Parker struggled to string together another solid contest after finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds on 5 - of - 20 shooting . Whiteside dominated the offensive and defensive ends of the floor after putting up 12 points , 17 rebounds and seven blocks , to go along with two steals on 5 - of - 12 shooting . Dion Waiters had the hot hand on the scoring front after contributing 23 points on 10 - of - 22 shooting . Both teams play on Saturday , as the Heat take on the Wizards in Washington , while the Bucks host the Warriors .


These are two teams that ranked bottom - five in scoring and top - five in defense coming into this game , but those trends did not carry over in this matchup . Memphis shot 51 percent from the field , while Miami shot 49 percent on their end . There were only 19 combined steals/blocks and 16 combined turnovers , as these two teams played their most offensively efficient games of the year . Marc Gasol was on fire , as he tied a season - high with 28 points in the win . Dion Waiters did all he could to keep the Heat hanging around , as he tallied 28 points , five rebounds and six assists in the absence of Goran Dragic . The assist - to - turnover differential was huge , with Memphis recording 23 assists - to - six turnovers , while Miami recorded just 18 assists - to - 10 turnovers . There were 13 lead changes in total , with no team leading by more than nine points .

The visiting Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Miami Heat , 110 - 107 , at American Airlines Arena on Saturday . In a battle between two defensive - minded teams , offense was on display . In fact , both teams show over 49 percent from the field and there were only 16 combined turnovers and 19 combined steals/blocks . Those are extremely low numbers and it comes as a big surprise with these inefficient offenses squaring off . Free-throw shooting was key for the Grizzlies , as they went 27 - of - 33 to the Heat 's 16 - of - 24 . The assist - to - turnover differential was huge as well , with Memphis recording 23 assists - to - six turnovers , while Miami recorded just 18 assists - to - 10 turnovers . There were five ties and 13 lead changes , with no team leading by double - digits for the entirety of the game . Memphis ( 11 - 6 ) have been thriving off their elite defense lately , but the offense was key in this victory . Marc Gasol was the player of the game , as he tied a season - high with 28 points , adding three rebounds and six assists to his tally . Troy Williams got the first start of his rookie campaign and scored a career - high 18 points in a career - high 35 minutes . Tony Allen also got a rare start , totaling 11 points and eight rebounds in the win . Mike Conley finished the game with 21 points and seven assists , hitting numerous big shots in the fourth quarter . On deck for Memphis is a home matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday . Miami ( 5 - 11 ) had to play this game without Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow , but they fought to the final whistle . In fact , all five starters scored in double figures , with none of them shooting below 40 percent from the field . Dion Waiters stepped up in Dragic 's absence , accumulating a team - high 28 points , five rebounds and six assists . Hassan Whiteside recorded another double - double despite dealing with foul trouble , scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the defeat . Josh Richardson amassed 15 points , three rebounds and five assists , but missed a game - tying three at the buzzer . Miami will host the Boston Celtics for their next game on Monday .


The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 112 - 104 Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena . The Celtics ( 10 - 7 ) continued to surge with heir fourth win in their last five games . They were led by point guard Isaiah Thomas , who , despite having a poor shooting performance from the field , managed to record 25 points , eight assists and four steals in 35 minutes , and his work has a floor leader propelled the Celtics to have 46 assists to just nine turnovers as a team . Fellow starters on the wing Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder recorded 18 and 17 points respectively , but it was the play of Boston 's bench that really helped get them to victory , with four reserves managing to score 38 points Monday night . For Miami ( 5 - 12 ) , they came into Monday 's game depleted with injuries , with Dion Waiters ( groin ) , Tyler Johnson ( mouth ) and Justise Winslow ( wrist ) all ruled out . Additionally , starting point guard Goran Dragic ( elbow ) and Hassan Whiteside ( knee ) were both listed as questionable but managed to play through their ailments . And they were very impressive despite the injuries , with Dragic posting 27 points and 17 assists and Whiteside posting his own double - double of 25 points on 10 - of - 13 shooting and 17 rebounds . Their efforts , however , were not nearly enough , as the team lacked much of an offensive punch outside of those two . They mainly lacked punch from the outside , as Miami shot just 6 - of - 30 from behind the arc as a team . Up next , the Celtics will look to keep rolling at home Wednesday against the Pistons , while the Heat will head to Denver on Wednesday and play the Nuggets .

There 's no question Isaiah Thomas is the team 's No . 1 scoring option and has done an admirable job taking on those duties , but it has n't come without the efficiency issues that come with being under six feet tall . Monday 's performance was yet another example , as while Thomas managed to score 25 points , he did so on 7 - of - 23 shooting from the field , which is the sixth time in the last nine games that Thomas has shot under 40 percent from the field . He is , however , still scoring 26 points per game over that span and has done so with his ability to not only get to the free throw line , but make most of his free throw attempts . In those nine games , Thomas has gotten to the line 84 times and is shooting an incredible 89 percent from the charity stripe . So , while as a pure shooter from the field , Thomas may not be the most accurate , the way he utilizes his size to draw fouls may make up for it .


In a game that was expected to be tight throughout , the two teams did n't disappoint . There were nine ties and 17 lead changes , with New York taking control in the fourth quarter . Shooting was key , as the Heat were held to 43 percent from the field , while the Knicks shot 49 percent . New York also dominated the rebounding , winning that battle , 53 - 46 . Carmelo Anthony had one of his best games of the season , dropping a game - high 35 points on 13 - of - 27 shooting . Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah were huge down low , as they each recorded a double - double . Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside once again carried the load for Miami , as Dragic tallied 29 points , four rebounds and seven assists , while Whiteside accumulated 24 points , 13 rebounds and three blocks . Derrick Rose had to leave this game early , as he was dealing with back spasms in the third quarter , but finished with 10 points .

The New York Knicks defeated the host Miami Heat , 114 - 103 , at American Airlines Center on Tuesday . These two teams totaled nine ties and 17 lead changes , as there was swing after swing in this tightly contested battle . Defense was key for New York , as they held Miami to 43 percent shooting . The Knicks shot 49 percent on their end and outrebounded the Heat , 53 - 46 . New York ( 12 - 9 ) has finally been starting to gel over recent weeks and they received some big performances in a big road win . Carmelo Anthony was the player of the game , scoring a game - high 35 points on 13 - of - 27 shooting . Kristaps Porzingis recorded a double - double , totaling 14 points and 12 rebounds . Derrick Rose finished the game with 10 points , two rebounds and three assists before leaving early due to back spasms . Joakim Noah had one of his best games as a Knick , accruing 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 14 minutes of action . On deck for New York is a home matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday . Miami ( 7 - 14 ) are starting to play better , but they ran into a hot Knicks bunch that did n't want to lose . Goran Dragic continued his fantastic form , accumulating 29 points , four rebounds and seven assists in the loss . Hassan Whiteside recorded yet another double - double , amassing 24 points , 13 rebounds and three blocks . Wayne Ellington was the only other starter in double figures , dropping 14 points . Tyler Johnson did provide 13 points and five rebounds off the bench . Miami will play again on Wednesday , as they travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks .


While these teams are playing below expectations , they put on a show in this game , There were 10 ties and 11 lead changes in total , as neither team led by more than 11 points . The Miami offense fell just shy of a season - high in points , as they shot a boastly 51 percent from the field . John Wall and Bradley Beal were the only Wizards players with more than 10 points in their defeat , as everyone else really struggled . Wall finished with 30 points , six rebounds and eight assists , while Beal totaled 29 points and four steals . Goran Dragic was in foul trouble for the majority of the game , but still accumulated a season - high 34 points , five rebounds and five assists in 31 minutes of play . Hassan Whiteside had another monster double - double , accruing 17 points and 16 rebounds . The Heat had just four players come off the bench , but James Johnson , Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson all played at least 29 minutes and all scored in double figures .

The Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards , 112 - 101 , at American Airlines Arena on Monday . In a battle between two struggling teams , there were numerous swings , as it was clear both squads were desperate for a win . There were 10 ties and 11 lead changes in total , with no team leading by more than 11 points . Miami made the final most decisive swing , outscoring Washington , 31 - 19 , in the fourth quarter . The Heat offense had one of its best games of the season , as they shot 51 percent from the field and assisted on 25 of their 45 buckets . The rebounding was a huge factor as well , with Miami winning that battle , 47 - 36 . Washington ( 9 - 14 ) continues to struggle this season and losses to teams like the Heat obviously does n't help their cause . Bradley Beal and John Wall did all they could though , as they scored over half of the teams total points in this loss . Wall finished the game with 30 points , six rebounds and eight assists , while Beal accrued 29 points and four steals . The only other player on the roster in double figures was Markieff Morris , who amassed 10 points , five rebounds and three assists . On deck for Washington is a home matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday . Miami ( 8 - 17 ) has been playing much better than their record would indicate , so this sort of win can only add to their confidence . Goran Dragic had one of the most efficient games of the season , as he accumulated a season - high 34 points , five rebounds and five assists in just 31 minutes of play . Hassan Whiteside recorded another double - double , totaling 17 points and 16 rebounds in the win . Josh McRoberts had a nice all - around game , tallying seven points , eight rebounds and five assists . The bench played well for Miami , with Josh Richardson , Tyler Johnson and James Johnson all scoring in double figures . Miami will look to build off this win , as they host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday for their next game .


The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers , 95 - 89 , at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday . While these are teams that have n't quite lived up to expectations this season , they left it all on the floor here . Miami turned on the defense in the fourth quarter , as they held the Pacers to just 10 points en route to a comeback win . Indiana struggled all night from the field though , as they hit just 37 percent of their shots . Rebounding was huge for the Heat , as they won that battle , 58 - 38 . In addition , Miami recorded 23 assists , while holding the Pacers to just 14 . There were nine ties and 14 lead changes , as neither team led by more than seven points . Indiana ( 13 - 13 ) has been a bit of a disappointment this season and losses like this only add to the skepticism . Paul George struggled from the field , as he accumulated 22 points , seven rebounds and three assists on 8 - of - 22 shooting . C.J . Miles was second on the team , as he dropped 15 points off the bench . Myles Turner had a nice all - around game , amassing 11 points , seven rebounds , two assists and five blocks in the defeat . The Pacers will look to play better on Friday in a road matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans . Miami ( 9 - 17 ) has not had the results they want this year , but they continue to play well and wins like this only confirm that point . Hassan Whiteside was the player of the game , as he totaled 26 points and 22 rebounds on 10 - of - 16 shooting . Goran Dragic was the only other starter in double figures , as he tallied 11 points , five rebounds and six assists . The bench was huge , as Josh Richardson , Tyler Johnson and James Johnson all scored in double figures . Tyler Johnson finished with 15 points , five rebounds , three assists and four blocks , while James Johnson accrued 14 points , three rebounds and six assists . On deck for the Heat is a home matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday .

This was one of the tightest games of the season , as neither team led by more than seven points . In total , there were nine ties and 14 lead changes , as it came down to the final seconds . Defense was key for Miami , as they held Indiana to 37 percent shooting and just 10 points in the fourth quarter . The Heat also dominated the rebounding and assists , winning the rebounding , 58 - 38 , and the assists , 23 - 14 . Paul George was the only Indiana player with more than 15 points , as he tallied 22 points , seven rebounds and three assists in the defeat . Myles Turner totaled 11 points , seven rebounds and five blocks . Hassan Whiteside was the player of the game , as he amassed 26 points and 22 rebounds in the win . The Johnson duo was huge off the bench for Miami , as Tyler Johnson and James Johnson combined for 29 points , eight rebounds and nine assists .


The visiting Los Angeles Clippers took down the Miami Heat on Friday , 102 - 98 . The Clippers ( 20 - 7 ) took a 14 - point lead by the end of the first half , but saw a scare as the Heat launched a comeback effort coming out of halftime . Los Angeles ' saw strong play from its stars , however , en route to the victory . Forward Blake Griffin led the team with 20 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists . Meanwhile , center DeAndre Jordan pulled down a ridiculous 19 rebounds in addition to 12 points scored . Chris Paul dished out only six assists , well below his average , but scored 17 points . The team shot only 43 percent and made just seven three - pointers , but was still able to score enough to win the game . The win was the team 's fourth straight . Miami ( 9 - 18 ) saw its struggles continue despite a valiant second - half effort on Friday . The team protected the ball exceptionally well , committing just four turnovers on the night . Despite being able to retain possession of the ball , the Heat had trouble putting it in the hoop consistently . Miami shot just 40 percent and hit only six three - pointers in the contest . Top performers for Miami were guard Goran Dragic , who scored 21 points and had an impressive 11 assists , and center Hassan Whiteside , who pulled down 17 rebounds . The Clippers will visit Washington on Sunday , while the Heat will host the Celtics .

The Los Angeles Clippers were led to victory by their stars on Friday , as they narrowly edged out the Miami Heat . All-Star forward Blake Griffin had 20 points and nine rebounds as well as four assists . Meanwhile , DeAndre Jordan , the reigning All-NBA First Team center , pulled down a whopping 19 rebounds to help the Clippers earn a positive differential on the glass . Though Chris Paul saw below his usual output , the star still contributed 17 points and six assists while turning the ball over just once . Miami , meanwhile , also saw strong play from its star players . Guard Goran Dragic had a 21 - point , 11 - assist double - double . Meanwhile , center Hassan Whiteside pulled down 17 boards in what was a duel on the glass between him and Jordan . The team protected the ball exceptionally , turning it over just four times as a unit , but could not find the basket enough for the win .


Despite missing over a week of action with a groin injury , point guard Isaiah Thomas looks as though he has not missed a step . Thomas has been the Celtics ' top scorer in both games since returning from injury , scoring a team - high 23 in Sunday 's win against the Heat . Center Al Horford had a well - rounded game , scoring 17 points , dishing out eight assists , and pulling down seven rebounds . Guard Avery Bradley had 20 points , and forward Jae Crowder scored 15 while grabbing five steals . The team forced 23 Miami turnovers , in part with 13 total steals . Miami hit 52 percent of its shots but had 23 turnovers and hit just 56 percent of its free - throws . Point guard Goran Dragic and center Hassan Whiteside , however , continued to perform . Dragic had 31 points , five rebounds , and seven assists , while Whiteside scored 23 and pulled down 17 rebounds .

The visiting Boston Celtics took down the Miami Heat on Sunday , 105 - 95 . Boston ( 15 - 12 ) has now won both games since the return of star point guard Isaiah Thomas . Thomas suffered a groin injury in the Celtics ' loss to Houston earlier in the month , but has returned as strong as ever , leading the Celtics in scoring in both games since his return . Thomas had 23 points on Sunday in addition to four assists . Guard Avery Bradley added 20 points , while All-Star center Al Horford scored another 17 . Boston was able to win the game on the back of strong defensive play . Despite allowing Miami to hit 52 percent of its shots , the Celtics forced a ridiculous 23 turnovers , including 13 steals . Five of those came from Jae Crowder , who also chipped in 15 points on the offensive end . Miami ( 9 - 19 ) has struggled mightily thus far this season . The team came out slow on Sunday , allowing the Celtics to outscore them 37 - 19 in the first quarter . The Heat were unable to come back from the stagnant start , despite shooting 52 percent from the field . However , Miami went just 14 - of - 25 from the free - throw line . The team also turned the ball over 23 times on the night . Center Hassan Whiteside dominated despite the team 's struggles . Whiteside had 23 points , 17 rebounds , and three blocks . Guard Goran Dragic also had a nice night , scoring 31 points to go with five rebounds and seven assists . The Heat will host the Magic on Tuesday , while the Celtics will visit Memphis .


The Orlando Magic defeated the host Miami Heat , 136 - 130 , in double - overtime at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday . These are two teams that have struggled offensively all season , so a numbers boosting double - overtime game may be what they need to find some momentum . Orlando were the ones who escaped with the win , as they won the second overtime , 18 - 12 . Shooting was key for the Magic , as they shot 50 percent from the field and from three - point range . Both teams struggled at the free - throw line , as they each failed to crack 70 percent shooting . There were 10 ties and 27 lead changes in total , with neither team leading by more than 12 points . Orlando ( 13 - 17 ) have n't had much to get excited about this season , but a double - overtime road win may be just what they need to get going . Nikola Vucevic was the Magic 's best player , as he totaled 26 points and 12 rebounds off the bench . Evan Fournier matched his 26 points and added five rebounds and four assists to his tally in the victory . Serge Ibaka accumulated 20 points , nine rebounds and two assists . Elfrid Payton came off the bench to collect 22 points , two rebounds and six assists . Orlando will return to action on Thursday in a road matchup with the New York Knicks . Miami ( 9 - 20 ) continue to play well , but they simply ca n't win games . Hassan Whiteside did all he could though , as he had game - highs with 32 points , 15 rebounds and five blocks in the defeat . Tyler Johnson was fantastic off the bench , accruing a career - high 32 points , five rebounds , three assists and three steals before fouling out in overtime . Goran Dragic went just 6 - of - 17 from the field , but tallied 19 points , four rebounds and five assists before fouling out himself . James Johnson was also productive off the bench , providing 12 points , eight rebounds and six assists . Miami 's next game will be on Thursday , when they host the Los Angeles Lakers .

These are two teams that have struggled this season , but they left it all on the floor in this double - overtime thriller . There were 10 ties and 27 lead changes in total , with neither team leading by more than 12 points . The Magic got it done through offense , as they shot 50 percent from the field and from three - point range . Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier carried the load for Orlando , as they scored 26 points a piece . Serge Ibaka finished with 20 points and nine rebounds of his own . Elfrid Payton came off the bench with Vucevic to provide 22 points and six assists . Hassan Whiteside was the player of the game despite the loss , as he totaled 32 points , 15 rebounds and five blocks . Tyler Johnson was huge off the bench for Miami , as he matched Whiteside 's 32 points , while adding five rebounds , three assists and three steals .


These are two teams that are really struggling recently , but the Heat have shown much more promise and that was evident here . Despite trailing by 19 in the second quarter , Miami were able to outscore Los Angeles by 15 points in the second half . The Heat 's offense was on point , as they shot 54 percent from the field and 50 percent from three - point range . Lou Williams led the Lakers in scoring , as he dropped 27 points off the bench . D'Angelo Russell had a nice game too , accumulating 17 points , four rebounds and seven assists . Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside carried the load for Miami , as they each totaled 23 points and 13 rebounds in the win . Goran Dragic continued his great form , amassing 21 points and seven assists . James Johnson was a nice spark off the bench , accruing 19 points , eight rebounds and six assists .

The Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers , 115 - 107 , at American Airlines Arena on Thursday . Even though Miami trailed by 19 at times in the second quarter , they rallied to pull out a much needed win . The third and fourth quarters is when Miami did their damage , as they outscored Los Angeles . 62 - 47 in that stretch . The Heat 's offense was efficient as ever , as they shot 54 percent from the field and 50 percent from three - point range . Rebounding and assists were lopsided as well , as Miami won the rebounding , 47 - 40 and the assist differential , 25 - 18 . The Heat 's first lead did not come until there was a minute left in the third quarter . Los Angeles ( 11 - 21 ) is in their worst stretch of the season right now and they continue to falter against bad teams . Lou Williams was once again the best player for the Lakers , as he dropped 27 points off the bench . Nick Young led the starters in scoring , as he scored 20 points on 7 - of - 14 shooting . D'Angelo Russell had his bets game in weeks , accumulating 17 points , four rebounds and seven assists . On deck for Los Angeles is a road matchup against the Orlando Magic on Friday . Miami ( 10 - 20 ) have been playing better than results would show , so a win here is just what the doctor ordered . Justise Winslow was the Heat 's most valuable player , as he accrued 23 points , 13 rebounds and four steals in 42 minutes of action . Hassan Whiteside matched Winslow , as he provided 23 points and 13 rebounds of his own . Goran Dragic was the only other starter in double figures , as he collected 21 points and seven assists . James Johnson continued his great form , leading the bench with 19 points , eight rebounds and six assists . The Heat return to action on Friday , as they play the New Orleans Pelicans on the road .


Westbrook has been making triple - doubles look easy all season and he did that yet again in this win . He finished this game with 29 points , 17 rebounds and 11 assists en route to his 15th triple - double of the season . Many of the statistics were lopsided for the Thunder , as they dominated from start to finish . Rebounding was very decisive , as Oklahoma City won that battle , 46 - 32 . Fastbreak points and points in the paint were huge as well , with the Thunder outscoring the Heat , 58 - 32 in the paint and 16 - 4 in fastbreak points . Steven Adams was the only other Thunder starter in double figures , as he totaled 15 points and eight rebounds on 7 - of - 10 shooting . Enes Kanter came off the bench to provide 19 points and eight rebounds of his own . Josh Richardson was the lone bright spot for Miami , as he led the team with 22 points , five rebounds and three assists .

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the host Miami Heat , 106 - 94 , at America Airlines Arena on Tuesday . While Miami got out to an early lead , that was the only one they 'd have all game . In fact , the Thunder led for the final 40 - plus minutes , as they pulled out a near wire - to - wire win . Rebounding was the biggest factor to the Thunder 's success , as they won that battle , 46 - 32 . Fastbreak points and points in the paint were also decisive , as Oklahoma City outscored Miami , 58 - 32 in the paint and 16 - 4 in fastbreak points . The Thunder finished the game shooting 51 percent from the field , while holding the Heat to just 44 percent . Oklahoma City ( 20 - 12 ) have riden the back of Russell Westbrook all season and he carried the load once again here . Westbrook notched his 15th triple - double of the season , as he accumulated 29 points , 17 rebounds and 11 assists in the win . Steven Adams was the only other starter in double figures , as he totaled 15 points and eight rebounds . Enes Kanter was a nice spark off the bench , providing 19 points and eight rebounds . On deck for the Thunder is a road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday . Miami ( 10 - 22 ) had to play this game without Goran Dragic and it clearly hampered them in this loss . Josh Richardson had been struggling this season , but he was a nice bright spot in this loss , tallying a career - high 22 points , five rebounds and three assists . The Johnson 's once again led the bench in scoring , as Josh Johnson accrued 16 points and five rebounds , while Tyler Johnson dropped 15 points , two rebounds and two assists . Hassan Whiteside really struggled , as he went 4 - of - 11 from the field and committed four turnovers en route to a 12 - point and eight - rebound dud . The Heat will look to play better on Thursday in a road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets .


The Detroit Pistons defeated the Miami Heat , 107 - 98 , at American Airlines Arena on Sunday . While there were only two ties and five lead changes in total , this game was close throughout . Miami actually led for the first 30 minutes , while the Pistons took their first lead in the third quarter and never looked back . Defense in the second half was key for Detroit , as they held Miami to just 32 points in that 24 - minute stretch . Rebounding was the biggest factor in Detroit 's win , as they won that battle , 48 - 34 . They also dominated scoring down low as well , as they outscored the Heat , 42 - 26 in the paint . The Pistons ( 16 - 20 ) have been in a terrible rut recently , but this is a big road win to get them closer to .500 . Reggie Jackson had his best game of the season , as he led the team with 27 points , two rebounds and four assists . Andre Drummond was equally as good , as he totaled 25 points , 18 rebounds and two blocks . Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the only other starter with more than 11 , as he tallied 23 points , six rebounds and five assists . More importantly , those three players combined to go 31 - of - 51 from the field . Detroit will return to action on Tuesday in a home matchup against the Indiana Pacers . The Heat ( 10 - 25 ) had to play this game without Goran Dragic , Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow , as they simply did n't have enough bullets to win this fight . Josh Richardson had to carry the load , as he accumulated 14 points , eight assists and two steals in the loss . Wayne Ellington led the starters in scoring , as he accrued 18 points , four rebounds and three assists . James Johnson led the team in scoring off the bench , collecting 20 points , seven rebounds and three assists . Miami will look to get out of this slide on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns .

Miami had a tough task here without three of their best players and it was evident they grew tired in the second half . In fact , they were outscored , 27 - 15 in the third quarter and scored just 32 points in the second half in total . Detroit let their presence be felt in the paint , as they won the rebounding battle , 48 - 34 , and the points in the paint differential , 42 - 26 . Reggie Jackson led the Pistons in scoring , as he dropped 27 points on 10 - of - 17 shooting . Andre Drummond recorded a double - double , totaling 25 points and 18 rebounds . Kentavious Caldwell-Pope capped off the starters with 23 points , six rebounds and five assists . Miami 's top scorer came off the bench , as James Johnson accrued 20 points , seven rebounds and three assists . Josh Richardson played the majority of the point guard minutes , tallying 14 points and eight assists .


The Miami Heat defeated the Houston Rockets , 109 - 103 , at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday . This appeared like an easy Houston win on paper , but Miami had other ideas with this impressive performance . A 20 - 3 run in the fourth quarter was the decisive stretch for the Heat , as that gave Miami their largest lead of the game . It was tight throughout though , as there were 15 ties and 19 lead changes , with no team leading by more than seven points until that huge run at the end . Shooting was the key difference , with Miami hitting 47 percent of their shots , while Houston were held to just 40 percent . The Heat also did work in the paint , winning that battle , 64 - 50 . The Rockets ( 32 - 12 ) are in a bit of a rut right now , as this marks their third loss in their last four games . James Harden picked up yet another triple - double though , accumulating 40 points , 12 rebounds and 10 assists . Patrick Beverley was second among starters , totaling 12 points , seven rebounds , three assists and two steals . Trevor Ariza amassed 11 points and eight rebounds . Eric Gordon really hurt the Rockets off the bench , providing just seven points , one rebound and one assist on 3 - of - 17 shooting . The Heat ( 12 - 30 ) have been unlucky in terms of results this season and a win over the Rockets shows just how good they can be . Goran Dragic led the team in scoring , accruing 21 points , eight rebounds and eight assists . Hassan Whiteside recorded another double - double , dropping 14 points and 15 rebounds . Dion Waiters was the only other starter in double figures , collecting 17 points , five rebounds and three assists . James Johnson was huge off the bench , providing 15 points , eight rebounds , six assists and three steals . Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington were also great off the bench , combining for 34 points and six rebounds .

The Rockets were expected to win this game easily , but the Heat showed some serious fight in a big upset win . A 20 - 3 run in the fourth quarter was the decisive stretch , as that gave Miami their largest lead of the game . Prior to that , no team led by more than seven points , as there were 15 ties and 19 lead changes in total . The Rockets shot just 40 percent from the field , while the Heat shot 47 percent . James Harden posted another monster triple - double , accumulating 40 points , 12 rebounds and 10 assists . No other player on the team had more than 13 points , as the other four starters combined for just 31 points . Goran Dragic was Miami 's best player , accruing 21 points , eight rebounds and eight assists . Hassan Whiteside totaled 14 points and 15 rebounds . James Johnson was huge off the bench , collecting 15 points , eight rebounds , six assists and three steals .


The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 99 - 95 Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena . While the Heat ( 13 - 30 ) managed to open up a seven - point lead at the end of the first quarter , but a brutal second quarter , which they lost by 16 points , put their chances of winning against the red - hot Mavericks ( 14 - 28 ) , who came in as winners of three straight games , in serious doubt . But Miami managed to gain back the lead and pull away in the second half on the back of yet another great performance from starting point guard Goran Dragic . Dragic finished with a game - high 32 points on 11 - of - 15 shooting from the field , which included hitting all four of his shots from behind the arc . Tyler Johnson also added yet another solid performance off the bench , scoring an efficient 23 points in 28 minutes as a reserve . For Dallas , they came just short of extending their win streak to four games despite having a solid all - around team effort . Dirk Nowitzki continues his return to form , as he led the way for the Mavericks with 19 points , while Wesley Matthews added 18 points of his own . Harrison Barnes and Seth Curry each added 15 points , while J.J. Barea added 13 points off the bench , but the other four Mavericks that played Thursday combined to score just 15 points . Up next , the Heat will look to extend their win streak to three games against the Bucks on Saturday , while the Mavericks will play again Friday against the Jazz .


These are two teams going in opposite directions , as Miami were able to capture their third - straight win . The Heat did most of their damage in the first half , leading , 53 - 43 , headed into the locker room . Shooting was the difference in the game , with the Heat shooting 53 percent , while the Bucks could n't crack 42 percent . Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in scoring , as he accumulated 24 points , 10 rebounds , three assists and two steals in the defeat . Jabari Parker came off the bench for disciplinary issues and finished second on the team with 16 points , seven rebounds and four assists . Dion Waiters was the player of the game , as he tied a career - high with 33 points on 12 - of - 19 shooting in the win . Goran Dragic was n't far behind , providing 25 points and six assists . Hassan Whiteside totaled 16 points and 15 rebounds en route to a double - double .

The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks , 109 - 97 , at American Airlines Arena on Saturday , Miami have n't had many dominant wins this season , but they led for the final 40 minutes here in an impressive victory . Shooting was the glaring difference in the game , with the Heat hitting 53 percent of their shots , while Milwaukee went just 42 percent from the field . Miami did most of their damage in the first half , as they led 53 - 43 , headed into the locker room . Three-point shooting was decisive as well , with Miami going 13 - of - 30 , with Milwaukee hitting just 6 - of - 18 from long range . The Bucks ( 20 - 23 ) played this game with Jabari Parker and Malcolm Brogdon coming off the bench for disciplinary issues and that clearly put them too far behind the eight - ball to overcome . Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the load though , accumulating 24 points , 10 rebounds , three assists and two steals . Parker came off the bench to provide 16 points , seven rebounds and four assists . Brogdon did n't have as much success off the bench , scoring four points on 1 - of - 10 from the field . Matthew Dellavedova started at point guard and tallied 15 points and seven assists . The Heat ( 14 - 30 ) have now won three - straight games , as the balance beam is evening up with their abundance of close losses . Dion Waiters tied a career - high with 33 points on 12 - of - 19 shooting , adding three rebounds and three assists to his tally . Goran Dragic was second on the team , dropping 25 points , to go along with six assists . Hassan Whiteside recorded a 16 - point , 15 - rebound double - double . Wayne Ellington dropped 15 points off the bench , while James Johnson totaled seven points and six assists off the pine as well .


Dion Waiters had an surprisingly hot start to the regular season in his first year with the Heat , as he became one of the primary scoring options on a struggling Miami team , but a groin injury in late November derailed the former Syracuse star and left him sidelined for a little over a month . Following his return on Jan. 4 , Waiters found the floor inconsistently as he worked his way back into basketball shape . But now , eight games later , Waiters ' efficiency and production has been out of this world . Following his 33 - point heroic performance against the Warriors on Monday , Waiters has now , in each of his last two games , scored 33 points in 33 minutes , and he has done so at a ridiculous efficiency . In those two performances , Waiters has shot 25 - of - 39 ( 64 percent ) from the field and 11 - of - 16 ( 69 percent ) from behind the arc . Miami , as winners of four straight , is hot , and Waiters is the biggest reason why .

The Miami Heat defeated the Golden State Warriors 105 - 102 Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena . After Kevin Durant tied the game at 102 with just over 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter , Dion Waiters held the ball at the top of the key while the clock ticked down . With a little over two seconds on the clock , Waiters launched a shot from behind the arc . The shot hit nothing but net and the Heat pulled off one of the biggest upset victories in the NBA this season . Waiters was not only the hero , but he was also the star , as he finished with a game - high 33 points on 13 - of - 20 shooting from the field and 6 - of - 8 from 3 - point land in 33 minutes . As a team , the Heat were scorching from behind the arc , hitting a ridiculous 43 percent of their shots from long range in the winning effort . The win gives Miami their fourth straight victory as they were perfect over their four - game home stand . Meanwhile , the loss ends the Warriors ' ( 38 - 7 ) seven - game win streak , as it ended up being too little too late in the closing moments for the NBA 's top team . Durant led the way in the scoring column , finishing with 27 points on 12 - of - 23 shooting from the field , but he did shoot just 1 - of - 8 from behind the arc . Additionally , Steph Curry almost put together a triple - double , as he recorded 21 points , 10 rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes . Klay Thompson added 22 of his own , but JaVale McGee 's 10 points made him the fourth and final Warriors to score in double figures . Up next , the Heat will look to continue their winning ways in Brooklyn on Wednesday , while the Warriors will look to return to form against the Hornets on Wednesday .


Detroit shot a superb 57 percent from the field but Miami countered by going 53 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three - point range . Four Heat players drained multiple threes , and seven players shot 50 percent or better . The Heat pulled away with a 26 - point fourth quarter after entering the final period trailing 91 - 90 . Reggie Jackson 's 24 points paced Detroit . Andre Drummond posted a 17 - point , 20 - rebound double - double . Tobias Harris supplied a bench - leading 16 points , while Marcus Morris provided 14 . Jon Leuer and Ish Smith registered matching eight - point efforts . Goran Dragic 's 23 points led the Heat . Wayne Ellington paced the bench with 19 points , and James Johnson continued his strong play with 18 points , eight boards , five assists , two steals and a block . Dion Waiters tallied 17 points , and Hassan Whiteside hauled in 12 boards .

The Miami Heat defeated the Detroit Pistons , 116 - 103 , at Palace at American Airlines Arena on Saturday evening . The Heat ( 18 - 30 ) checked in to Saturday in the midst of their best stretch of the season , but faced a Pistons ( 21 - 26 ) squad that was surging in its own right , albeit a bit more modestly . Although Detroit was hot from the field - - as evidenced by a 57 percent success rate - - Miami countered by going 53 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three - point range . Four Heat players drained multiple threes , and seven players shot 50 percent or better . The spectacular offensive performances allowed the home team to pull away in the fourth quarter after they entered the period with a 91 - 90 deficit . Reggie Jackson paced the Pistons with 24 points , seven boards and three assists . Andre Drummond had his typically spectacular game against the Heat , generating 17 points , 20 rebounds , an assist , three steals and two blocks . Tobias Harris supplied a bench - leading 16 points , which he supplemented with two rebounds and a steal . Marcus Morris provided 14 points , two rebounds , two assists and a steal . Jon Leuer and Ish Smith registered matching eight - point efforts from the first unit and bench , respectively . Goran Dragic led the way for Miami with 23 points , a total he supplemented with four assists , two rebounds and a steal . Wayne Ellington led the bench with 19 points , two assists and a steal . James Johnson continued his strong play with 18 points , eight boards , five assists , two steals and a block . Dion Waiters tallied 17 points , seven assists and three boards . Hassan Whiteside contributed a modest nine points but hauled in 12 boards . The Pistons next head to Boston to face off with the Celtics on Monday evening , while the Heat remain home to tangle with the Nets on Monday night as well .


The Miami Heat defeated the Brooklyn Nets , 104 - 96 , at American Airlines Arena on Monday . The recent form of these teams would indicate a Miami blowout , but that simply was n't the case in this close - fought battle . A 32 - 11 run spanning between the second and third quarter was the decisive stretch , as that swung a double - digit lead for the Nets into a 10 - point lead for the Heat . Despite there being just three ties and three lead changes , neither team led by more than 13 points , as it was a single - digit margin for well over 40 minutes . Three-point shooting was the difference in the game , with Miami going 11 - of - 26 from long range , while Brooklyn went just 4 - of - 26 . The assist - to - turnover ratio killed Brooklyn as well , as they committed five more turnovers than Miami , while recording six less assists . The Nets ( 9 - 39 ) have just one win in their last 18 games , but this was a valiant effort against a hot Miami team . Bojan Bogdanovic led Brooklyn in scoring , totaling 16 points and six rebounds , Brook Lopez was second on the team , finishing with 14 points , three rebounds and three assists on 5 - of - 17 shooting . Trevor Booker amassed 13 points and eight rebounds . Isaiah Whitehead was the only bench player in double figures , providing 13 points , four rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes of action . Brooklyn will look to get out of this slide on Wednesday , when they host the New York Knicks for their next game . The Heat ( 19 - 30 ) have now won eight - straight games , as they continue to climb back into the playoff hunt . Goran Dragic scored a game - high 20 points , to go along with three rebounds , eight assists and three steals . Dion Waiters was n't far behind , tallying 19 points , six rebounds and nine assists . Hassan Whiteside recorded 12 points , nine rebounds and three blocks . James Johnson was arguably the player of the game off the bench , accumulating 17 points , four rebounds , five assists , two steals and three blocks . On deck for the heat is a home matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday .

This victory for Miami gave them their eighth - straight win , while it marked Brooklyn 's 17th loss in 18 games . The difference in this matchup was a 32 - 11 run spanning between the second and third quarter , as that swung an 11 - point lead for Brooklyn into a 10 - point lead for Miami . Three-point shooting was the decisive statistic , with the Heat going 11 - of - 26 , while Brooklyn went just 5 - of - 26 from long range . Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets in scoring , totaling 16 points and six rebounds . Brook Lopez finished with 15 points , three rebounds and three assists . Isaiah Whitehead was a nice spark for Brooklyn off the bench , as he provided 13 points , four rebounds and five assists . Goran Dragic led Miami in scoring , as he tallied 20 points , three rebounds , eight assists and three steals . Dion Waiter was just as good , collecting 19 points , six rebounds and nine assists . James Johnson was a monster off the bench , accumulating 17 points , four rebounds , five assists and three blocks .


The Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks , 116 - 93 , at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday . The Heat ( 20 - 30 ) came in to the contest searching for their nine straight victory in what has been a jaw - dropping hot streak . Standing in their way was a Hawks ( 28 - 21 ) squad that may have still been feeling some of the residual fatigue from their quadruple - overtime classic against the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon . Miami certainly seemed like the fresher team , jumping out to a 29 - 22 first quarter lead , and increasing that edge to 62 - 47 by intermission . Although matters tightened up somewhat in the second half , the Heat 's cushion was too much for Atlanta to overcome . The home team played well on both ends of the floor , tallying a 49 percent success rate from the floor while limiting their visitors to a 39 percent figure . They also elicited 15 turnovers from the Hawks , while limiting their highest individual score to a modest 14 points . Kent Bazemore mustered that total , and he supplemented it with an assist , two steals and a block . Dennis Schroder followed with 12 points , two assists , a rebound and a steal . Mike Dunleavy provided a bench - leading 11 points , which were accompanied by six rebounds . Tim Hardaway , Jr. supplied 10 points ( on 2 - of - 9 shooting ) , four boards and a pair of assists . Paul Millsap , who 'd played 60 minutes in Sunday 's affair , totaled nine points , seven rebounds , two assists and two steals . Dwight Howard went for just six points but hauled in 11 rebounds . Dragic paced Miami with 27 points , five assists , five rebounds and a steal . Waiters was next with 20 points , seven rebounds , three assists , two steals and two blocks . Hassan Whiteside put together an 18 - point , 18 - rebound double - double that also included one steal and two blocks . James Johnson chipped in with 16 points , three assists , two rebounds , three blocks and a steal . Tyler Johnson was productive as a reserve as well with 11 points , five assists , three rebounds , two steals and two blocks . The Hawks get back on the road and head to Houston for a Thursday tilt with the Rockets , while the Heat are off until Saturday night when the Philadelphia 76ers come to town .

Miami dominated a sluggish Hawks squad on both ends of the floor , shooting a stellar 49 percent while limiting Atlanta to a 39 percent figure and causing 15 turnovers . Goran Dragic ( 27 points ) and Dion Waiters ( 20 points ) once again spearheaded the Heat offense . Hassan Whiteside put together an 18 - point , 18 - rebound double - double , while James Johnson chipped in with 16 points to lead the bench . Tyler Johnson was productive as a reserve as well with 11 points . Kent Bazemore 's modest 14 points led the Hawks . Dennis Schroder followed with 12 points and Mike Dunleavy provided a bench - leading 11 . Tim Hardaway , Jr. supplied 10 points ( on 2 - of - 9 shooting ) , while Paul Millsap , who 'd played 60 minutes in Sunday 's quadruple - overtime affair , totaled nine points and seven rebounds . Dwight Howard mustered a modest six points but hauled in 11 boards .


The Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers , 125 - 102 , at American Airlines Arena on Saturday . The Heat ( 21 - 30 ) was red - hot coming in to Saturday 's contest and seemed primed to continue their streak , considering they were facing a Sixers team that had dropped four of their last five games and would be without their most potent offensive weapon in Joel Embiid ( knee ) . Miami made good on that prognosis , ambushing their vistors by a 32 - 17 margin in the first quarter and never really letting up . Hassan Whiteside led the way with a monstrous 30 - point , 20 - rebound double - double that also included a trio of blocks , and the Miami bench totaled 50 points overall . They also posted outstanding 59 and 55 percent success rates from the field and three - point range , respectively , allowing them to overcome the 20 turnovers they were guilty of . The Sixers ( 18 - 32 ) were led by Ersan Ilyasova , who posted 21 points , five rebounds and two assists . Gerald Henderson was next with 12 points , two assists and two steals . Richaun Holmes followed with a near double - double with 12 points , nine rebounds , two assists and one steal . T.J. McConnell generated 11 points , four assists and two rebounds . Sean Rodriguez contributed 10 points , one rebound and one assist as a reserve as well . Dion Waiters followed Whiteside with 21 points , seven assists , one rebound , two steals and one block . Goran Dragic was next with 16 points , eight assists and four rebounds . Tyler Johnson led the bench with 16 points , six rebounds , six assists , one block and one steal . Wayne Ellington and James Johnson were productive as reserves as well , with the former tallying 11 points , two rebounds and one steal and the latter offering 10 points , six rebounds , three assists and two steals . The Sixers head to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Monday night , while the Heat head to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves on Monday evening as well .

Hassan Whiteside spearheaded Miami to their 10th straight win with a monstrous 30 - point , 20 - rebound double - double , and the Heat bench totaled 50 points . They also posted outstanding 59 and 55 percent success rates from the field and three - point range , respectively , allowing them to overcome 20 turnovers . Dion Waiters followed Whiteside with 21 points . Goran Dragic was next with 16 points , and Tyler Johnson matched Dragic 's point total to lead the bench . Wayne Ellington and James Johnson were productive as reserves as well , tallying 11 and 10 points , respectively . The Sixers were led by Ersan Ilyasova , who posted 21 points . Gerald Henderson was next with 12 points , while Richaun Holmes followed with a near double - double consisting of 12 points and nine rebounds . T.J. McConnell generated 11 points , while Sean Rodriguez contributed 10 points as a reserve .


The recent form of these teams would indicate a Miami blowout , but Orlando had other ideas . In fact , they led for well over 40 minutes of this game , as they never looked in jeopardy to relinquish the lead . Rebounding was the key , with the Magic winning that battle , 52 - 37 . Three-point shooting was a huge factor as well , with Orlando hitting 57 percent from long distance to Miami 's 27 percent . Evan Fouriner carried the Magic , as he tallied 24 points and four assists . Nikola Vucevic recorded a double - double , toting 13 points , 17 rebounds and three steals . Elfrid Payton was huge off the bench , providing 20 points , five rebounds and four assists . Dion Waiters led the way for Miami , as he amassed 23 points and six assists . Hassan Whiteside accumulated 12 points , 19 rebounds , two blocks and two steals . Goran Dragic scored 22 points in an otherwise empty stat line .

The Orlando Magic defeated the host Miami Heat , 116 - 107 , at American Airlines Arena on Monday . Despite Orlando leading for nearly the entirety of this game , it was close throughout . In fact , it was a single - digit margin for over 40 minutes , as it came down to the final seconds . Three-point shooting was a huge factor for the Magic , as they went 8 - of - 14 from long range , while Miami hit just 6 - of - 22 . Rebounding was decisive as well , with Orlando winning that battle , 52 - 37 . The Magic ( 21 - 36 ) had lost 16 of 20 headed into this game , so a road win against someone as hot as Miami has to be an encouraging sign . Evan Fouriner carried the load for Orlando , as he tallied 24 points and four assists on 10 - of - 17 from the field . Nikola Vucevic was equally as big , totaling 13 points , 17 rebounds , three assists and three steals . Serge Ibaka was second among starters in scoring , as he amassed 17 points and eight rebounds on 7 - of - 9 shooting . Elfrid Payton was huge off the bench , providing 20 points , five rebounds and four assists . On deck for the Magic is a home matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday . The Heat ( 24 - 32 ) have now lost their last two games , which strangely came after a season - high 13 - straight wins . Dion Waiters made his return from an ankle injury to lead the team with 23 points , two rebounds and six assists . Goran Dragic was n't far behind , accruing 22 points and three rebounds . Hassan Whiteside recorded another double - double , collecting 12 points , 19 rebounds , two blocks and two steals . James Jonson and Tyler Johnson combined for 28 points , six rebounds and five assists off the bench . Miami will look to snap this small slide in a road game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday .


The Miami Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers , 113 - 95 , at American Airlines Arena on Saturday night . After a mostly dismal first two months of the season , the light appeared to come on for the Heat ( 27 - 32 ) in mid - January and it 's yet to be extinguished . Miami rattled off victories in 14 of 16 games leading into the All-Star break , and have now begun the second half with two straight wins . The Pacers ( 30 - 29 ) , who 've largely been heading the opposite direction lately , stumbled yet again , posting a sub - par 40 percent success rate and committing 15 turnovers . The Heat had three players eclipse the 20 - point mark while shooting a superb 49 percent overall . The Pacers were led by Myles Turner , who tallied 18 points , seven boards , one assist , two steals and one block . Jeff Teague supplied 16 points , six assists , three rebounds and one steal . Slam Dunk Contest champ Glenn Robinson III paced the second unit with 13 points , five rebounds and one steal . Rodney Stuckey was productive in a reserve role as well , managing 12 points , three assists , one rebound and two steals . Paul George struggled for the second straight game , producing 10 points , one rebound and one assist . C.J . Miles provided eight points and five rebounds in his start at shooting guard . Hassan Whiteside and Dion Waiters co - led the Heat with matching 22 - point efforts . Whiteside also brought in 17 rebounds and recorded a steal and block apiece , while Waiters had three assists , two rebounds and two steals . Goran Dragic followed closely behind with 21 points , four assists , two rebounds and two steals . Luke Babbitt registered nine points , three rebounds , one assist and one steal . James Johnson led the bench with 15 points , eight assists , seven rebounds , two steals and two blocks . The Pacers travel to Houston to face the Rockets on Monday night , while the Heat also heads to the Lone Star State for their own Monday evening date with the Dallas Mavericks .

The Pacers posted a sub - par 40 percent success rate from the floor and committed 15 turnovers , while the Heat had three players eclipse the 20 - point mark and shot 49 percent overall . Hassan Whiteside and Dion Waiters co - led Miami with matching 22 - point efforts , with Whiteside also bringing in 17 rebounds . Goran Dragic followed closely behind with 21 points . Luke Babbitt registered nine points , while James Johnson led the bench with 15 points , eight assists , seven rebounds , two steals and two blocks . Myles Turner 's 18 points paced Indiana . Jeff Teague supplied 16 points , and Slam Dunk Contest champ Glenn Robinson III paced the second unit with 13 points . Rodney Stuckey was productive in a reserve role as well , managing 12 points . Paul George struggled for the second straight game , producing just 10 points on 3 - of - 8 shooting .


The Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers , 125 - 98 , at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday . Miami was expected to win this game easily and they left no doubt with this lopsided result . It was a wire - to - wire win for the Heat , as they led by 10 after the first quarter and by 20 headed into halftime . The assist - to - turnover ratio was decisive , as Miami recorded eight more assists than Philly , while committing six less turnovers . The Heat also dominated the shooting , hitting 54 percent of their shots to the Sixers 44 percent . The Sixers ( 22 - 38 ) just learned that they lost Joel Embiid ( knee ) for the season and games like this could be a sign of things to come . Robert Covington led Philly in scoring , as he tallied 19 points and five rebounds . T.J. McConnell finished second among starters with 14 points , five rebounds and five assists . Richaun Holmes came off the bench to provide 15 points and six rebounds . The Sixers will host the New York Knicks on Friday for their next game . The Heat ( 28 - 33 ) have been one of the best teams in the league across the last two months , as this win marks their 10th home win in 11 tries . Tyler Johnson led Miami in scoring , as he collected 24 points , two rebounds , four assists and two steals off the bench . Wayne Ellington was second on the team , dropping 18 points of his own off the pine . Hassan Whiteside totaled 15 points , 11 rebounds , three assists and four blocks . Dion Waiters and Goran Dragic also scored 15 points a piece . Miami will play the Orlando Magic on the road for their next game on Friday .

This was a wire - to - wire win for the Heat , as they held a double - digit lead for the final 30 - plus minutes . Shooting was key , as Miami shot 54 percent from the field , while holding Philadelphia to just 44 percent . Robert Covington led the Sixers , as he tallied 15 points and six rebounds . T.J. McConnell contributed 14 points , five rebounds and five assists . Richaun Holmes came off the bench to provide 15 points and six rebounds . Tyler Johnson was Miami 's best player , as he collected 24 points , two rebounds , four assists and two steals off the bench . Hassan Whiteside was the best starter , as he accumulated 15 points , 11 rebounds , three assists and four blocks . Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters also scored 15 points a piece . Wayne Ellington finished second on the team by dropping 18 points off the bench .


The Miami Heat defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers , 120 - 92 , at American Airlines Arena on Saturday night . After an exhausting 135 - 130 victory on Friday against the Hawks , Cleveland opted to rest LeBron James and Kyrie Irving , who 'd combined for 81 points in the win . While that likely proved disappointing to the many in South Florida who showed up to see the dynamic duo in action , it was a prudent move for the top - seeded Cavaliers ( 42 - 19 ) , who are looking to have their superstars as fresh as possible for the postseason run . An opportunistic Heat ( 29 - 34 ) team took advantage , pulling away with a 32 - 16 second quarter and never looking back . Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside led the way for Miami with a combined 43 points , and the Heat second unit totaled 53 points while getting extra run in the blowout win . Channing Frye took the reins of the offense with the Big Three out of comission for Cleveland , posting a team - high 21 points , four rebounds , two steals and one block . Kyle Korver paced the starting five with 15 points , two assists and one rebound . Richard Jefferson provided 11 points as a reserve . Deron Williams , Tristan Thompson and Derrick Williams supplied a trio of 10 - point efforts . Deron Williams added seven assists and five rebounds , Thompson registered six rebounds and three assists , and Derrick Williams hauled in six boards . Dragic led the Heat with 23 points , five assists and three rebounds . Whiteside tallied a 20 - point , 13 - rebound double - double that also included one block . Tyler Johnson was next with a bench - leading 17 points , which he supplemented six rebounds , two assists and two steals . Wayne Ellington chipped in 12 points , four boards and one steal . No other Miami player managed double digits in the scoring column , with Luke Babbitt ( nine points , one assist , one steal ) coming the closest . The Cavaliers and Heat reconvene on Monday night in Cleveland for the second game of the home - and - home set .

The Heat pulled away from the short - handed Cavs with a 32 - 16 second quarter and never looked back . Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside led the way for Miami with a combined 43 points , and the Heat reserves totaled 53 points while getting extra run in the blowout win . Dragic led the Heat with 23 points , while Whiteside tallied a 20 - point , 13 - rebound double - double . Tyler Johnson was next with a second unit - leading 17 points . Wayne Ellington chipped in 12 points . No other Miami player managed double - digit scoring , with Luke Babbitt ( nine points ) coming the closest . Channing Frye posted a team - high 21 points for the Cavs . Kyle Korver paced the starting five with 15 points , while Richard Jefferson provided 11 points as a reserve . Deron Williams , Tristan Thompson and Derrick Williams supplied a trio of 10 - point efforts .


These are two teams battling for a playoff berth and this game had a playoff atmosphere to it . In fact , there were eight ties and 11 lead changes , with neither team leading by more than 12 points . The Heat had to comeback to win , as they outscored the Hornets , 27 - 15 , in the fourth quarter . Rebounding was key , with Miami winning that battle , 46 - 39 . Kemba Walker carried the load , leading Charlotte with 33 points . Nicolas Batum accrued 16 points , seven rebounds and four steals . Marvin Williams totaled 14 points , 12 rebounds , three assists and three steals . Dion Waiters led Miami with 24 points and five assists . Goran Dragic collected 22 points , six rebounds and 10 assists . Hassan Whiteside amassed 10 points , 15 rebounds and four blocks . James Johnson came off the bench to provide 10 points , six rebounds and five assists .

The Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets , 108 - 101 , at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday . These are two teams battling for a playoff spot in the East and it had that sort of atmosphere . This was tight throughout , as there were eight ties and 11 lead changes , with neither team leading by more than 12 points . Miami took care of business in the fourth quarter , outscoring Charlotte , 27 - 15 . Rebounding was a huge factor , with the Heat winning that battle , 46 - 39 . They also dominated the assists differential , winning that , 22 - 14 . The Hornets ( 28 - 36 ) have just four wins in their last 11 games and losses like this are crucial to their pursuit of a playoff berth . Kemba Walker did all he could , leading the team with 33 points and four rebounds . Nicolas Batum finished second on the team , accumulating 16 points , seven rebounds and four steals . Marvin Williams amassed 14 points , 12 rebounds , three assists and three steals . On deck for Charlotte is a home matchup against the Orlando Magic on Friday . The Heat ( 31 - 34 ) have now gotten their winning streak to three games , as they continue their incredible run , now sitting within a game of the eight - seed in the East . Dion Waiters led the team with 24 points , three rebounds and five assists . Goran Dragic accrued 22 points , six rebounds and 10 assists . Hassan Whiteside recorded a double - double , totaling 10 points , 15 rebounds , two steals and four blocks . James Johnson was a nice spark off the bench , collecting 10 points , six rebounds and five assists . Miami will look to keep rolling on Saturday in a home matchup with the Toronto Raptors .


The Miami Heat defeated the visiting Toronto Raptors , 104 - 89 , at American Airlines Arena on Saturday evening . The Raptors ( 38 - 28 ) came out flat on the second night of a back - to - back , resulting in their second straight loss . They shot 38 percent from the field and only 2 - of - 15 from long range . The Heat ( 32 - 34 ) on the other hand , came out on fire , with a 32 - point first quarter and won the second quarter 27 - 15 , to take a 59 - 41 lead into halftime . Miami then held on through the second half to earn their fourth straight win and come one step closer to a spot in the top eight in the East . Dion Waiters was the high - point man for Miami , with 20 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting , including 4 - of - 6 from deep . Five other players scored in double digits for the Heat , including Goran Dragic , who chipped in 15 . Dragic had his night cut short after 17 minutes of action , as he took a hit in the eye , which resulted in swelling . Hassan Whiteside double - doubled , with 12 points and 14 rebounds , to go along with four blocks , in 33 minutes , while Tyler Johnson added 16 points on 6 - of - 12 shooting , in 27 minutes off the bench . The Heat will look to keep rolling , as they face the second game of a back - to - back in Indiana on Sunday . Meanwhile , despite shooting 5 - of - 16 , DeMar DeRozan was the high point man for the Raptors , with 17 points in 28 minutes of action . Norman Powell got the start in place of DeMarre Carroll and finished with 14 points on 5 - of - 14 shooting . Jonas Valanciunas finished with 10 points on 5 - of - 6 shooting , and 10 rebounds , in only 21 minutes . The Raptors will look to bounce back and avoid a third straight loss , as they play host the Mavericks on Monday .

The Toronto Raptors shot 38 percent from the field , including an abysmal 2 - of - 15 from long range . Jonas Valanciunas double - doubled with 10 points and 10 rebounds , while DeMar DeRozan was the high - point man for Toronto with 17 points on poor 5 - of - 16 shooting . Norman Powell added 14 points , also on poor shooting , as he went 5 - of - 14 from the field . Delon Wright chipped in 13 points , three rebounds , three assists and three steals , in 25 minutes off the bench . Meanwhile , The Heat were rolling as they shot 49 percent from the field , including a solid 39 percent from long range . Dion Waiters led the way for Miami with 20 points on 6 - of - 10 shooting , along with five assists , in 33 minutes . Tyler Johnson chipped in 16 points in 27 minutes off the bench , while Hassan Whiteside finished with 12 points , 14 rebounds and four blocks in 33 minutes .


Miami have been the hottest team in the league over the past two months , as this marks their 22nd win in 27 games . More importantly , it put the Heat in a tie with the Milwaukee Bucks for the eight - seed in the east . Rebounding was the biggest difference in the game , with Miami winning that battle , 45 - 38 . Anthony Davis led the way for New Orleans , as he collected 27 points , eight rebounds , three steals and three blocks . DeMarcus Cousins amassed 19 points and nine rebounds . E'Twaun Moore led the bench , as he dropped 18 points . Goran Dragic returned from his eye injury to tally 33 points and five rebounds to lead the team . Hassan Whiteside totaled 20 points and 17 rebounds on 9 - of - 11 shooting . The bench was huge , as Wayne Ellington , James Johnson and Tyler Johnson all scored in double figures , while combining for 39 points , nine rebounds , 14 assists and four steals .

The Miami Heat defeated the New Orleans Pelicans , 120 - 112 , at American Airlines Arena on Wednesday . Despite the Heat leading for nearly the entirety of this game , this fixture was closer than it looks . In fact , there were eight ties and six lead changes in total , with a double - digit lead being held for just four of the 48 minutes . Rebounding was decisive , with Miami winning that battle , 45 - 38 . Free-throw shooting was also key , with the Heat shooting 84 percent to New Orleans 68 percent . The Pelicans ( 27 - 41 ) continue to search for their rhythm with DeMarcus Cousins now in the fold , as they have just three wins in 10 games with him in the lineup . Cousins played well here though , finishing with 19 points , nine rebounds and two steals . Anthony Davis led the team , as he collected 27 points , eight rebounds , three steals and three blocks . Jrue Holiday amassed 11 points , four rebounds and eight assists . E'Twaun Moore came off the bench to provide 18 points on 8 - of - 12 shooting . On deck for New Orleans is a home matchup against the Houston Rockets on Friday . The Heat ( 33 - 35 ) have now won five of their last six games , with this win giving them a tie for the eight - seed in the east . Goran Dragic returned from his eye injury to lead Miami with 33 points and five rebounds on 11 - of - 18 shooting . Hassan Whiteside totaled 10 points and 17 rebounds on 9 - of - 11 from the field . Wayne Ellington led the bench with 19 points , while Tyler Johnson and James Johnson combined for 20 points , seven rebounds , 13 assists and three steals off the pine as well . Miami will look to keep rolling on Friday in a home matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves .


The Miami Heat defeated the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves , 123 - 105 , at American Airlines Arena on Friday evening . The Heat owned a significant 64 - 49 lead at halftime , however the Timberwolves came back with a 32 - point third quarter to cut the deficit to nine heading into the fourth . The Heat got right back to business in the fourth though , led by Goran Dragic , who poured in 12 points in the quarter , to help seal the win and keep Miami 's playoff hopes alive . Unfortunately for Miami , Dion Waiters was forced to leave the game in the second quarter after rolling his ankle . The Heat ( 34 - 35 ) dished 29 assists and shot a blistering 59 percent from the field , to earn their 20th home win of the season . Hassan Whiteside led the way for Miami with 23 points on 10 - of - 11 shooting and 14 rebounds , in 33 minutes . Tyler Johnson also poured in 23 points , while James Johnson chipped in 17 points , as they continued to provide the Heat with a huge spark off the bench . Goran Dragic added 19 points and dished 10 assists , in 33 minutes of action . With the Pistons and the Bulls both taking loses on Friday night , this win is extremely valuable for Miami 's playoff aspirations , as it puts them one game ahead of the ninth - place Pistons and two games ahead of the tenth - place Bulls . The Heat will look to continue their effort , as they play host to the Trail Blazers on Sunday . Meanwhile , Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves ( 28 - 40 ) with 31 points and 11 rebounds , while Andrew Wiggins followed up with 26 points and Ricky Rubio added 20 . The only other player to score in double digits for the T-Wolves was Shabazz Muhammad , who chipped in 15 on 7 - of - 10 shooting , in 28 minutes off the bench . The Timberwolves now sit five games out of eighth in the West , and will continue to battle , as they visit New Orleans to take on the Pelicans on Sunday .

The Heat were on fire from the field , hitting 59 percent of their field goal attempts , while they dished 29 assists and scored 64 points in the paint . Hassan Whiteside led the charge for Miami with 23 points on super efficient 10 - of - 11 shooting , to go along with 14 rebounds and three blocked shots , in 33 minutes . Tyler Johnson also finished with 23 points , while James Johnson chipped in 17 , as the two combined provided the Heat with a formidable attack off the bench . Goran Dragic finished with 19 points , 10 assists , five rebounds and three steals , in 33 minutes . Meanwhile , Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for the Timberwolves with 31 points and 11 rebounds , in 38 minutes . Andrew Wiggins followed up with 26 points , while Ricky Rubio came up big once again , with 20 points , six assists and two steals .