Heat snaps three-game losing skid with much-needed win over Nets

The Miami Heat needed a win badly. The Heat was also desperate for a quality defensive performance.

Miami (6-8) got both in a convincing 120-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets (6-9) on Wednesday at Barclays Center to snap a three-game losing skid. The Heat’s defense was solid, holding the Nets to 40.2 percent shooting (Brooklyn’s second-worst shooting percentage of the season).

This was a much-needed defensive effort for the Heat after it allowed 116.7 points on 49.8 percent shooting over its previous three games. Miami had slipped all the way to 19th in the league’s defensive rating rankings entering Wednesday.

Miami controlled the game from the start, as the Nets never led. The Heat finished the first quarter ahead by 16 points and built its lead up to as many as 23 points.

The Nets made a late push to cut the Heat’s lead to nine with 4:28 to play, but Miami closed on a 14-10 run to pull away with the win.

Six Heat players finished with double-digit points as part of its balanced offensive attack. Tyler Johnson led the way with 24 points on 9 of 12 shooting, and Goran Dragic contributed 21 points.

A lot of Miami’s success originated near the basket. The Heat finished with a season-high 70 paint points.

Spencer Dinwiddie led the Nets with 18 points.

The Heat was without James Johnson (sports hernia surgery), Derrick Jones Jr. (stomach flu), Dwyane Wade (personal reasons) and Dion Waiters (left ankle surgery). The Nets played their first game without leading scorer Caris LeVert, who suffered a dislocated right foot Monday, and were also missing starting center Jarrett Allen (illness).

Up next for the Heat is a Friday road game against the Pacers to end a quick two-game trip.

This story was originally published November 14, 2018 at 9:59 PM.