Bam Adebayo #13 and Max Strus #31 of the Miami Heat show emotion as they defeat the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 3, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Michelle Farsi/Getty Images/AFP
Bam Adebayo totaled 30 points and 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat overcame a 16-point deficit and held on for a 113-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night in New York.
The Heat earned their 10th win in 12 games by outscoring Brooklyn 72-53 in the final 29 minutes.
Adebayo made 12 of 15 shots. His biggest hoop was a 5-footer in the lane with 35.5 seconds left that gave the Heat a 111-107 lead after Brooklyn had scored 10 straight.
Tyler Herro added 27 points and eight assists as the Heat shot 51.9 percent. Caleb Martin contributed 22 points and Max Strus chipped in 21 by hitting six of Miami’s 10 3-pointers.
The Heat beat the Nets for the third time this season despite missing three starters. Jimmy Butler sat out with a toe injury, P.J. Tucker was out with a knee injury and Kyle Lowry missed a third straight game due to personal reasons.
Kevin Durant returned from missing 21 games with a sprained MCL in his left knee and scored 31 points for Brooklyn. Durant hit 10 of 21 shots but missed two in the final minute.
Bruce Brown added 21 points and Patty Mills chipped in 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 47 percent.
Durant scored nine points in the first quarter as Brooklyn shot nearly 54 percent and held a 35-23 lead. The Nets opened a 16-point lead midway through the second and led 67-60 at halftime.
The Heat outscored Brooklyn 21-10 over the final 9:07 of the third for an 88-84 lead. Adebayo’s dunk forged a 74-74 tie with 7:26 left, and Martin’s layup made it 76-74 with 6:52 left.
Goran Dragic’s layup got Brooklyn within 94-92 with 9:18 left. Miami countered with a 15-5 run and opened a 109-97 lead on Martin’s 3-pointer with 4:21 left.