Another Florida-based team, and another Dejounte Murray game-winner. Following up his walk-off on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, Murray did it again to top the Miami Heat on the road to secure a 109-108 victory. In a game without Trae Young, who was ruled out with an illness, the Hawks chances looked bleak against a fully-healthy Heat squad, but Murray and the Hawks had other ideas.
Trailing 106-108, Jalen Johnson forced a miss on the Heat’s Tyler Herro, that would have essentially ended the game in Miami’s favor. Murray grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball, pulling up for a 26-foot three pointer, that found the bottom of the net with 2.0 seconds remaining. Miami had one more chance but could not get a shot off and Atlanta earned their third straight victory.
Atlanta had all hands on deck, with Bogdan Bogdanovic moving from his normal role as sixth man into the starting lineup and boosted minutes for Garrison Mathews, Patty Mills & Trent Forrest. Bogi finished with 17 points on the evening and the trio of Mathews/Mills/Forrest combined for 23 points. Murray led all Hawks scorers with 22 points and 11 assists.
Miami did not get much help outside of their big three of: Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Herro. Butler and Herro each finished with 25 and Adebayo chipped in for 21. All other Heat scorers only combined for 37 points.
Atlanta was on the frontend of a back-to-back as they head to back to Atlanta to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night. Atlanta is riding a three-game winning streak and will look to keep that rolling Saturday.
