The Sports Xchange
Dec 29, 2017
MIAMI -- The Brooklyn Nets snapped a three-game losing streak, leading by 38 points before settling for a 111-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat (18-17) had beaten the Nets six straight times and 11 of 12 before the surprising result.
Brooklyn (13-22) was led by Joe Harris' 21 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's 18.
But this was a team effort as seven Nets scored in double figures, and the team shot 49.4 percent from the floor, including 11 of 26 on 3-pointers (42.3 percent).
Harris made 7 of 9 shots, including 4 of 4 on 3-pointers. Hollis-Jefferson made 8 of 9 shots from the floor and added eight rebounds.
Brooklyn also got some strong play from reserve guard Chris LaVert, who had 12 points and 11 assists.
Miami slipped to 8-9 at home in an embarrassing performance. A win would have put the Heat three games above .500 for the first time this season, but Miami was never close to winning this game.
The Heat were led by Josh Richardson's 19 points. Center Hassan Whiteside, in his second game back from a knee injury, added 17 points and eight rebounds.
Miami got off to an 8-0 start, but the Nets compiled a 16-2 run to take a 24-20 lead into the second quarter. The Heat dominated first-quarter scoring in the paint 16-8, but Miami was 0 of 7 on 3-pointers while Brooklyn was accurate on 4 of 8.
Brooklyn dominated the second quarter, outscoring Miami 35-19 to take a 59-39 lead into halftime. The Nets shot 51 percent in the first half, including 7 of 15 on 3-pointers. Miami shot 31 percent, including 1 of 11 on 3-pointers.
The game was never close in the second half as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra pulled his starters early in the fourth quarter.
For the game, Miami shot just 33.7 percent, including 3 of 26 on 3-pointers (11.5 percent).
NOTES: Heat SG Dion Waiters (ankle) missed his third straight game. ... Heat F Justise Winslow (left knee) missed his fifth straight game. ... Heat F James Johnson (right ankle) has missed three of the past four games and has played just eight minutes during that span. ... Nets leading scorer and PG D'Angelo Russell (left knee) is out until the middle of January, and the player who was supposed to be his backup, Jeremy Lin, is out for the season (right knee). ... Nets C Jahlil Okafor (conditioning) could return next week. ... SG Allen Crabbe, a 25-year-old who was acquired before this season in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, has the fifth-largest contract in Nets history in terms of annual salary ($19.3 million). ... Miami plays at the Orlando Magic on Saturday and then returns home for three straight games. ... Brooklyn's five-game road trip ends Sunday at the Boston Celtics.