The Atlanta Hawks crashed Miami’s trip down memory lane. Behind a triple-double from All-Star Jalen Johnson and a dominant night from beyond the arc, the Hawks spoiled the Heat’s 20th anniversary celebration of their 2006 NBA championship with a 127-115 victory Tuesday night.
Johnson was everywhere, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as Atlanta snapped a two-game skid. CJ McCollum provided a major lift off the bench, scoring 26 points, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 19 for a Hawks team that controlled the tempo for most of the night.
The game doubled as a celebration at Kaseya Center, honoring Miami’s first NBA title. Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal sat courtside, and many members of the 2006 championship roster were in attendance. But Atlanta quickly turned the night into a reminder that sentiment doesn’t win games.
The Hawks took the lead for good with 4:31 remaining in the opening quarter and consistently answered every Miami push with a run of their own. Atlanta built a 21-point advantage in the second quarter, saw the Heat cut it to 11, then stretched the margin back to 17 by halftime.
Miami made its strongest surge early in the third, trimming the deficit to five less than five minutes into the half. Once again, Atlanta responded. McCollum capped the quarter with a 3-pointer, restoring a 17-point Hawks lead heading into the fourth and effectively deflating the crowd.
Atlanta’s edge was decisive from long range and off the bench. The Hawks outscored Miami 63-24 from three-point distance and owned a 68-45 advantage in bench points, overwhelming the Heat’s rotation.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 21 points. Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio each scored 18, and Bam Adebayo posted 16 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.
The matchup marked the final game for both teams before Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline. The Hawks will next host Utah on Thursday, while the Heat hit the road to face Boston on Friday.
