The Brooklyn Nets staged an impressive second-half comeback to defeat the Miami Heat 109-105, adding to Miami’s struggles as they start the season with a dismal 1-4 record.
Armoni Brooks, called up from Brooklyn’s G League team, played a pivotal role in this victory, contributing 17 points in just 16 minutes of play. Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 21 points.
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn praised his team’s resilience, stating, “That’s the best part of basketball, showing up with who you have and staying together as a team and pulling out a victory on the road against a really good team.”
Brooks made a significant impact, with the Nets outscoring Miami 55-25 during his time on the court. He finished the game shooting 6 of 7 from the floor and 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. This game marked Brooks’ first NBA appearance since April 2022.
Worst five-game start since the 2007-08 season
Trendon Watford, in his Nets debut, added 11 points and was a plus-19 in just 14 minutes on the court. Lonnie Walker IV contributed 17 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith scored all of his 15 points in the second half. Cam Thomas chipped in with 13 points.
Tyler Herro led the Miami Heat with 30 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory. The Heat, now 1-4, are off to their worst five-game start since the 2007-08 season. Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Jimmy Butler scored 20 points.
Bam Adebayo expressed concern about the team’s early-season struggles, stating, “We don’t want to dig this hole too deep.”
Brooklyn’s bench outscored Miami’s bench 50-26, highlighting the Nets’ depth.
Need for improvement
Miami had previously nearly blown a 19-point lead in their season opener against Detroit. Their inability to maintain leads has been a recurring issue early in the season.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the need for improvement, saying, “We certainly have to sustain… We just have to be better at sustaining our game.”
The Nets will face the Chicago Bulls in their next In-Season Tournament game, while the Heat will host the Washington Wizards in their upcoming matchup.
