The Miami Heat launch a four-game homestand on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks riding a four-game winning streak and buoyed by a huge gulf in rebounding prowess between the two teams.
Miami’s 127-117 victory over the host Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday was underpinned by a 58-47 advantage on the glass.
Kel’el Ware (20 points, 16 rebounds) and Bam Adebayo (18, 13) were instrumental in that dominance, crashing the boards with vigor.
“With our rebounding, Bam and Kel’el were monsters on the glass, each one of them in their own way,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
“It gives us so much confidence. How fun was that to see Kel’el in that second quarter? Offensively, putting them back and just playing with so much more force than he was a year ago at this time. He’s gaining confidence. I want to be open-minded to wherever he can go. I don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but both those guys understand how important rebounding is for us.”
Norman Powell, who traveled to Philadelphia under a cloud due to a hip concern, appeared unhindered, scoring 32 points.
“What an explosive offensive talent he is,” Spoelstra said. “The fact that he made himself available (Sunday), we’re real appreciative of that.”
Powell, the team’s leading scorer, is averaging a career-high 25.4 points through 14 games. Miami’s high-octane offense could be further bolstered as All-Star guard Tyler Herro has targeted the Dallas clash as a potential return date following offseason left ankle surgery, according to an ESPN report on Sunday night.
In contrast to the board-hustling Heat, the Mavericks were emphatically out-rebounded 61-41 — including 23-11 on the offensive glass — in their 102-96 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
“Giving up 23 offensive rebounds is tough,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “You can’t win in this league if you give up that many rebounds. … We all talked about it. We have to be physical, and we weren’t.”
Starting guard Brandon Williams says the backcourt is just as much to blame for the Mavs’ poor showing on the glass as the frontcourt.
“We just got to be more physical,” he said. “Us guards have to come back and help the bigs.”
Veteran sniper Klay Thompson wound back the clock with a season-best 22 points — including six threes — off the bench. But he missed a trey late.
With Dallas down by three, Thompson had a chance to tie the game with 20 seconds remaining, but his hurried 29-footer from the logo — with 17 seconds still left on the shot clock — fell short and safely into the Girzzlies’ hands.
Kidd accepted the blame for Thompson’s ill-advised bomb.
“As the coach, I take full responsibility for that last shot,” he said. “We’ve got to get better. I’ve got to draw up a better play.”
P.J. Washington exited to the locker room with 4:54 remaining after hurting his lower back. He is listed as day-to-day.
The fierce interconference rivals have met 77 times in regular-season play, with the Heat narrowly leading 39-38. Miami beat Dallas by five points in overtime at home last season and lost by five on the road.
They have also faced each other twice in the Finals, splitting the spoils with one championship each, both with 4-2 results. The Heat captured the championship in 2006 and the Mavericks won it all in 2011.
–Field Level Media
