Kel’el Ware scored 16 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, set a career-high with seven blocks and added five steals, helping the host Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 126-110 on Thursday night.
Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with game highs in points (27) and rebounds (13).
The Heat, who have won three straight games, also got 25 points from Tyler Herro and 21 from Bam Adebayo. Miami has played all three of those winning games without its leading scorer, Norman Powell (groin injury).
Brooklyn lost its 10th straight game, the longest active skid in the NBA. The Nets also dropped to 1-40 when trailing after three quarters.
Additionally, the Nets were swept 3-0 in a season series against Miami for the first time since 2016-2017.
The Nets, who committed seven turnovers in the first four-plus minutes, bounced back to go on a 9-0 run, taking a 20-18 lead with 3:59 remaining in the first.
But by the end of the first quarter, Miami led 31-26, thanks in part to 11 points from Adebayo. Brooklyn actually shot the ball better: 50 percent overall and 4-for-6 on 3-point attempts. Miami shot 44% overall, and 2-for-9 from deep.
The second quarter featured a 15-4 Nets run, but Miami still led 60-56 at halftime.
In the first half, both teams shot similar percentages from the field, but the Heat scored 15 points off 11 Nets turnovers. Brooklyn scored just eight points off seven Miami miscues.
The Heat faced an issue in the third quarter as Adebayo committed two fouls, one offensive and one on defense, in 12 seconds. With 6:56 remaining in the third, he went to the bench with five fouls and the score tied at 72.
But even without Adebayo for the rest of the quarter, Miami surged to a 95-83 lead, and the Heat cruised the rest of the way.
For the game, the Heat iled with a 68-48 advantage on paint points and a 19-6 edge in fast-break points. Miami also outscored Brooklyn 24-13 on points off turnovers.
–Field Level Media
