Hot from long distance, Heat pound Suns
FILE––Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
Tyler Herro scored a game-high and season-high 33 points, and Duncan Robinson added 27 points as the Miami Heat knocked off the host Phoenix Suns 123-100 on Saturday night.
Herro’s 33 were two short of Miami’s franchise record for high-scoring game by a reserve. Herro made 12-of-20 shots, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers in 34 minutes. Robinson made 8-of-16 from behind the arc, also off the bench, and his 27 points were a season high.
The Heat shot a scorching 50 percent from 3-point territory.
The Heat, who never trailed after the first quarter, also got 14 points and a game-high 13 assists from Kyle Lowry. Teammate Omer Yurtseven added a game-high 16 rebounds to go with eight assists and seven points.
Phoenix, the first NBA team to reach 30 wins this season, fell to 17-5 on its home court.
Herro: 33 PTS, 5 REB, 3 3PM
Robinson: 27 PTS, 4 REB, 8 3PM@raf_tyler and @D_Bo20 combine for 60 PTS as the @MiamiHEAT roll to the win in the desert 🔥 pic.twitter.com/glWtmRIkZZ— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2022
The Suns were led by Devin Booker, who scored 26 points but made just 5-of-15 shots from the floor.
Phoenix also got 20 points from Mikal Bridges. Suns star point guard Chris Paul was held to nine points and seven assists, making just 3-of-9 shots.
Miami won despite having 12 players on its injury/illness report, including two of its top three scorers in Jimmy Butler (ankle) and Bam Adebayo (thumb).
Phoenix started fast, building a 12-6 lead by shooting 4-of-5 on 3-pointers. But Miami rallied with a 27-11 run and led 33-29 after one quarter.
Herro with a DART to Duncan for his SIXTH triple of the half 🎯@MiamiHEAT lead in the desert at the break on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/L8Rrlv9ZoR pic.twitter.com/qamSBVxhK8
— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2022
The Heat dominated the second quarter and went into halftime leading 71-50. Robinson led all first-half scorers with 18 points, making 6-of-10 from deep.
Miami shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, including 15-of-30 on 3-pointers. Miami also had edges in rebounds (26-16) and points in the paint (20-14). Phoenix shot just 41 percent, including 7-for-16 on 3-pointers (43.8 percent).
The Heat led 98-79 after three quarters.
Phoenix made a 16-2 run in the fourth, forcing Miami coach Erik Spoelstra to call timeout while leading 100-87 with 8:47 left.
Miami answered with a 7-0 run — featuring two Robinson 3-pointers — and Phoenix never challenged again.
