The Miami Heat won Game 1 of the first round series once morest the Atlanta Hawks in a dominant manner. With an outstanding defensive performance, the best East team of the regular season pulled Trae Young and Co. from the start.
Miami Heat (1) – Atlanta Hawks (8) 115:91 (BOXSCORE)
Atlanta never got into a rhythm offensively at any point in the game, which was particularly noticeable in Young, who had shown two outstanding games in the play-in. This time Young was completely ineffective (season-low 8 points, 1/12 FG, 4 assists, 6 turnovers) and the Hawks offense was correspondingly weak.
The guests only hit 38.7 percent from the field (10/36 threes), only Danilo Gallinari (17 points), DeAndre Hunter (14) and returnee John Collins (10) even reached a double-digit score before Kevin Knox did so in the Garbage Time also succeeded (13). In addition to Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic also had huge problems (6, 0/8 FG). “Today Miami showed us the level we need to reach to make the playoffs,” said Hawks coach Nate McMillan.
His opponent Erik Spoelstra might be much happier. The entire Heat team moved the ball well, recording 35 assists from 43 field goals, led by Duncan Robinson, who set a new playoff career high coming off the bench (27 points, 8/9 3FG). Jimmy Butler (21 points) was also very strong, PJ Tucker (16) and Kyle Lowry (10, plus 9 assists) also landed in double figures. Bam Adebayo, on the other hand, only hit one of his five throws, but defensively he was one of the keys to outstanding heat defense.
Heat: Bam Adebayo is everywhere
As expected, Atlanta were without Clint Capela, who sustained an injury in the play-in, but the good news was that Collins was available for the first time since March 11th. However, the forward came off the bench, and Onyeka Okongwu took Capela’s place in the starting five.
However, the Hawks started with enormous problems, mainly because of the heat defense. When Collins first came onto the court following seven minutes, Atlanta was at a field goal. Miami defended with the greatest intensity and took away Young’s options, Adebayo in particular was everywhere at the beginning. On the other side, the Heat didn’t start very hot either, but were able to work out better deals. Atlanta only hit three throws from the field throughout the quarter, but stayed within striking distance with ten free throws. 11:17 PM Miami following a quarter.
Early in the second, Young was sitting, and Atlanta continued desperately looking for offense. At the other end, Robinson netted two threes, Lowry followed up with another – the Heat extended their lead to 15, then even 19 points. Only Gallinari scored points for the Hawks, the Heat seemed overwhelming. Shortly before the break, Gabe Vincent sunk a corner three, it went into the dressing room at 59:40.
Duncan Robinson tosses dagger following dagger
And things didn’t get any better for Atlanta following that. Miami was prepared for every pass, every run, and following two play-in games and a very short break, their legs seemed heavy on the other side. Young seemed completely out of character and insecure, shortly before the end of the third quarter Nate McMillan took him down and at least a few successful throws by Hunter and Collins followed. But Robinson countered once more from outside, a butler alley oop followed86:60 for Miami before the final quarter.
Atlanta opened the round with an 8:3 run, whereupon Erik Spoelstra promptly called a time-out. Again it was Robinson who sank the next three – and then followed up with another in attack, this time with a foul! There was a difference of 28 points once more – and the game was decided for a long time. Young didn’t return to the court throughout the final quarter.
Heat vs. Hawks: The Series at a Glance (1-0)
| Spiel | Datum | time | Heim | away | result |
| 1 | 17. April | 19 o’clock | Miami Heat | Atlanta Hawks | 115:91 |
| 2 | 20. April | 1:30 | Miami Heat | Atlanta Hawks | – |
| 3 | 23. April | 1 O ‘clock | Atlanta Hawks | Miami Heat | – |
| 4 | 25. April | 1 O ‘clock | Atlanta Hawks | Miami Heat | – |
| 5* | 27. April | TBD | Miami Heat | Atlanta Hawks | – |
| 6* | 29. April | TBD | Atlanta Hawks | Miami Heat | – |
| 7* | 1st May | TBD | Miami Heat | Atlanta Hawks | – |
*if necessary
