Miami Heat lose third straight pre-season game as they fall to the Atlanta Hawks
A huge game by LeBron James wasn’t enough to overcome a balanced attack by the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite 38 points from James, the Atlanta Hawks (2-4) defeated the Miami Heat (3-4) 98-89 in a pre-season game last night in Atlanta.
James, who was booed during the pre-game introductions and every time he touched the ball, didn’t get much help from his team-mates, with only Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem scoring in double
digits. Bosh finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Haslem shot 3-11 from the field for 10 points. James, who shot 11-22 from the field in 38 minutes of play, also finished with 11 rebounds.
But James wasn’t complaining about the play of his team-mates last night.
“Every time I play basketball I’m having fun,” he said after the game. “I enjoy the game of basketball. I enjoy competing against the best. This is everything that I wanted and more, to
be out here and playing for this franchise and just trying to play at a high level every night when I go on the court.”
In what will likely be a common occurrence throughout the season, the attendance for last night’s game was higher than average, thanks to the star-power of the Heat. The announced attendance
was 15,197, about double the pre-season average for Atlanta home games. And the players felt the increased intensity.
“The energy in the building was more like a regular-season game,” said Atlanta’s Jamal Crawford.
The Hawks had five players score in double-figures, with Joe Johnson leading the way with 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Mike Bibby added 13 points, Al Horford had 12, while
Crawford and Josh Smith each finished with 11. Atlanta also got nine points and 11 rebounds out of Marvin Williams. Atlanta, who won 53 games last year, hopes their depth can continue to win them games.
“I think we’re a team that can put six, seven, eight guys in double figures on any night,” Crawford said. “That’s tough for an opposing team to contend with.”
The Hawks, members of the Southeast division along with the Heat, wanted to make a statement last night.
“I think it was two teams just trying to make a statement,” said Johnson. “It was fun to kind of get in the mode of the regular season.”
“We want momentum going into the regular season, and this is how you get it,” added Atlanta coach Larry Drew.
In a game that was close from start to finish, Bibby made a three-pointer to tie it at 88 apiece in the fourth quarter, following that up with another basket to put his team up 90-88,
a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Miami’s Dwyane Wade, who has been out all pre-season with a hamstring injury, is expected to rejoin his team for its final pre-season game tonight in Orlando, although he probably won’t
play.
"He will not likely play, but he will get a nice workout with us and be with the team," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game.
Spoelstra did not have any updates on Heat guard Mike Miller, who injured his thumb during a Heat practice this week, but reports indicate Miller, the top three-point shooter in the NBA
last year, will likely miss several weeks.
Tags: