Miami used team defense to smother Atlanta’s Trae Young and then leaned on Jimmy Butler to take the scoring lead.
Butler scored 13 of his 36 points in a dominant second quarter and the Heat beat the Hawks 110-86 while again shutting down Young on Sunday night to take a 3-1 series lead.
Miami can wrap up the first-round series in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Miami.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) battles Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela, right, for a rebound in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Miami ended Atlanta’s six-game home winning streak despite playing without point guard Kyle Lowry, who was held out with a left hamstring strain. Butler said some of his motivation to take the scoring lead was the need to fill the void left by Lowry’s injury.
“Everybody is in my ear about staying aggressing, taking more shots,” Butler said. “Tonight was a good one. We’ve got another one we’ve got to get.”
Butler overcame a slow start. He made only 1 of 7 shots before hitting his final five shots of the first half to lead the turnaround.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, front left, drives against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Miami outscored Atlanta 30-15 in the second period, holding the Hawks to a season scoring low for the period.
Butler had 10 rebounds, four assists and blocked a shot.
Young scored only nine points with five assists and five turnovers as he was shut down by Miami’s defense for the second time in four games. Young was held to eight points in Miami’s 115-91 Game 1 win.
“They’re doing a great job of showing help and not letting me get to the paint,” Young said. “You’ve got to give them credit. We’ve got to do a better job of figuring out how to get open looks so I can create for my teammates and myself, too.”
Atlanta Hawks Clint Capela, front left, and John Collins, right, reach for a rebound in front of Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, back left, in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Miami outscored Atlanta 47-26 in the paint.
“They basically kept us on the perimeter,” said Hawks coach Nate McMillan.
De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 24 points.
Gabe Vincent had 11 points while sinking three 3-pointers in his fill-in start for Lowry, who strained his hamstring in the third quarter Friday night in a 111-110 loss to the Hawks. Lowry’s status for Game 5 is not known.
Vincent also led the defensive effort against Young.
The Hawks led 37-29 before Miami took control with a 15-0 run in the second period.
A key in the Heat’s surge came on a Butler steal from Collins, who fouled as Butler scored and then made the free throw. It was Collins’ third foul.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) goes in for a basket against Atlanta Hawks De’Andre Hunter, second from left, John Collins (20) and Clint Capela, left, in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The 15-0 run, capped by Vincent’s 3-pointer, left Miami with a 44-37 lead. The Heat were not through, closing the half with an 11-0 run for a 55-41 lead at the break.
Butler drove through the Atlanta defense for two late baskets in the half after Collins left the game with four fouls with 1:54 remaining. Collins, who scored 11 points, finished with five fouls.
Miami led 98-74 when McMillan pulled out Young and his other starters.
TIP-INS
Heat: P.J. Tucker had 14 points and eight rebounds. Tucker was called for a technical foul when tensions rose after he was fouled by Onyeka Onkongwu late in the third quarter. … Bam Adebayo also had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) has his shot blocked by Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Hawks: C Clint Capela started after missing the first three games of the series with a right knee hyperextension. Capela had five rebounds and his only two points in his first 8 minutes. He finished with seven rebounds. … The Hawks made only 5 of 11 free throws in the first half and 11 of 20 overall.
INJURY SCARE
Young went to the floor in pain midway through the opening period after Vincent stepped on his left foot. Young winced and was slow to rise to his feet but remained in the game.
“It’s a little sore,” Young said after the game. “I definitely rolled it a little bit.”
OLADIPO READY WHEN CALLED
Victor Oladipo played 23 minutes, scoring six points with eight rebounds and four assists in his first appearance of the playoff series for Miami.
“I really admire him for his fortitude,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.
Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) drives past Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon, top right, in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
It was Oladipo’s first action since scoring 40 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists on April 10 against Orlando in the Heat’s final regular season game.
“I was ready regardless,” Oladipo said when asked if he was told before the game he would see playing time. “Nobody has to tell me anything.”
UP NEXT
Miami will try to extend its three-game home winning streak over Atlanta, including the first two games of the series, in Game 5. Overall, the Heat are 5-2 at home against the Hawks this season.
Credit: AP
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