The Atlanta Hawks bounced back from a three-game losing streak with a dominant defensive performance, holding the Miami Heat to a season-low 32.1% shooting in a 98-86 victory on Monday night.
Trae Young orchestrated the Hawks offense with 11 points and 14 assists, while Onyeka Okongwu led Atlanta in scoring with 17 points and eight rebounds. Terrance Mann and Caris LeVert provided a crucial spark off the bench, contributing 15 points each.
Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels, the NBA’s steals leader, made his presence felt on defense with seven steals, coming just one short of his season high. The Hawks’ effort held Miami to its lowest point total since March 2021, propelling Atlanta past the Heat into eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
For the struggling Heat, Andrew Wiggins led the way with 23 points, but Miami faltered from beyond the arc, missing 13 of its first 14 three-point attempts. Tyler Herro, who had recently posted two 40-point games in his last three outings, was limited to just 11 points on 4-for-19 shooting as Miami dropped its sixth game in the last seven contests.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra continues to search for a consistent rotation following the Feb. 5 trade of Jimmy Butler to Golden State. Since the deal, Miami has struggled to find its rhythm, posting a 2-6 record.
Despite playing competitive basketball, head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged that his team had been falling short in recent games. Against a potential future play-in opponent, the Hawks delivered a much-needed victory with a stifling defensive effort.
With 3:25 left in the fourth quarter and the Hawks leading by six, Atlanta successfully challenged a foul call on Trae Young, erasing two Miami free throws. On the ensuing possession, Terrance Mann drilled a three-pointer, pushing the lead to 93-84 and effectively sealing the game.
One night after allowing the Detroit Pistons to shoot a season-high 59.1%, the Hawks flipped the script, holding Miami to just 32.1% from the field, a season-worst mark for the Heat.
The Hawks and Heat will face off again on Wednesday in Miami, the third of four meetings between the teams this season.
