Bam Adebayo totaled 23 points, nine rebounds and six steals as the Miami Heat cruised past the Brooklyn Nets 124-98 on Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game set.
Tyler Herro scored 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 as Miami won for the fifth time in seven games. The Heat set the tone early, shooting 53% in the first half while building a 69-54 lead at the break.
Adebayo and Herro each had 15 points by halftime, while Jaquez and Andrew Wiggins chipped in 13 apiece in the opening two quarters. Miami steadily widened the margin in the second half, pulling away in the fourth and pushing its advantage to as many as 27.
Brooklyn’s struggles continued with its ninth straight loss. Noah Clowney led the Nets with 17 points, Ziaire Williams scored 16 and Nolan Traore added 14.
Leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. endured a difficult night, finishing with nine points on 3-of-17 shooting and missing all nine of his attempts from 3-point range. Brooklyn hasn’t won since putting together back-to-back victories nearly a month ago.
Wiggins, after a strong first half, was held scoreless after intermission, playing just 11 minutes and attempting two shots in the final two quarters.
Up next: The teams will meet again Thursday night in Miami.
