(Photo Credit: Rocky Widner)
The Miami HEAT snapped their two-game skid with a 128-99 blowout of the Sacramento Kings. The HEAT jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. They made 17 shots from beyond they arc, aiding the offensive explosion. The HEAT return to the court Monday against the Utah Jazz.
Impact Performance of the Night: What a performance from Mario Chalmers. Chalmers started hot and stayed hot through the entire game. Chalmers scored a career-high 34 points and tied a team record with 10 made three-pointers. It was a performance only topped by his Game 4 in last season's NBA Finals.
The Deciding Run: The HEAT shot out to a 28-17 lead through the first quarter. The game was never really in question from that point on. Both the HEAT offense and defense were clicking throughout the quarter.
Play of the Game: The LeBron James-Dwyane Wade travelling alley-oop show was in full effect tonight. Late in the first quarter Wade threw a picture perfect lob to James. He caught it and finished the play with a behind the head dunk. It was electrifying.
Efficiency Rating: Offensive Efficiency: 141.3; Defensive Efficiency: 102.7
Trend to Watch: The HEAT three-point shooting came to life tonight. Mario Chalmers tied the team record with 10 made threes, but he wasn’t the only HEAT player raining from behind the arc. As a team the HEAT shot 17-for-37 from three. When the HEAT are making threes, they’re almost impossible to defend. The space provided opens up the floor for Wade, James and Chris Bosh. Tonight’s performance might not be duplicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Consistently taking threes is the big thing for the HEAT. With the shooters they have, opponents must stay home. Tonight was the extreme, but the HEAT remaining committed to the long ball is a key to focus on.
The Takeaway: That was as good of a bounce back win as you’ll see. The HEAT played strong defense, hit open shots, made a couple of highlights and got to rest their starters. The defensive effort has been really strong the last week and it continued tonight, even after the HEAT opened up an insurmountable lead. If there’s one thing to takeaway from tonight’s blowout, it’s that.
Notes: LeBron James finished with 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 29 minutes. Chris Bosh scored 16 points, dished out five assists and grabbed four rebounds. Dwyane Wade added 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Mario Chalmers tied Brian Shaw with 10 made three-pointers. Shaw set the record in 1993. Shane Battier and Dexter Pittman were inactive.
Infographic:
More highlights:
