Norman Powell’s game-winning rally against the Clippers

The Heat went to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood to take over Clippers and thus play the second part of his back-to-back in Los Angeles after losing to the Lakers the day before. An opportunity for Norman Powell (21 points on 6/10 shooting, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) to find his former franchise. It was also a former member of the house who was first to shine as he delivered the decisive pass for the first score Bam Adebayo (25 points, 10 rebounds) followed by a “floating” and winning shot. The Heat went on to take a 12-2 lead just two minutes after the kickoff, forcing Tyronn Lue to take a timeout.

In the end, the Clippers went on a 14-3 run with a long-range shot from Kawhi Leonard (27 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) which gives advantage to Los Angeles (16-15).

The two teams traded shots until the end of the first act, which ended with Miami leading 32-30 despite Kawhi Leonard’s 15 points. For the beginning of the second quarter, John Collins shines behind the arc and gives the Clippers the lead, but it is Erik Spoelstra’s men who manage to extend the initial deficit by taking a seven-point lead. The hosts did not miss out and responded with a 13-0 to get back in front and maintain the advantage until halftime (71-66).

After the break, the Heat regained control of the game thanks to Bam Adebayo’s second game-winning shot of the night and took advantage of numerous Clippers turnovers in the third act to take an eight-point lead (103-95).

Bam Adebayo has the final word against James Harden

A delay that the Clippers recovered in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter thanks to two arrows from behind the arc signed Chris Paul etc John Collins and, once again, neither team can get off the field. Entering the final two minutes, Miami leads by three points, but James Harden (29 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) comes to a tie. On the other side of the court, Bam Adebayo puts the Heat back in front on the next possession, the Clippers’ leader loses the ball, while the Miami pivot makes two free throws to give his team a four-point advantage (120-118).

With 20 seconds left, James Harden makes another shot from behind the arc to bring his team within one. On the next throw-in, Norman Powell inherits the ball but is tackled by the duo Ivica Zubac – Chris Dunn which leads to a jump between the Croat and his former teammate, who wins from the inside.

However, in the last possession of the game, Kawhi Leonard could not offer victory to the Clippers as he could do against the Pelicans a few days earlier and the Angelinos lost (120-119).

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Victorious return for Norman Powell. For his return to the Intuit Dome, Norman Powell could have tribute video from his former franchise, but he didn’t do the Clippers any favors. From the start of the match, he was the one who set the Heat on the right track and proved to be decisive at the end of the match by putting in the ball on a pass from James Harden one minute from time. The guard finished the game with 21 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists on 6/10 shooting and a perfect 7/7 free throws.

– The third quarter that changed everything. The Clippers complicated the matchup as they put up a solid second quarter in which Tyronn Lue’s men scored 41 points for a five-point lead at the break. Except after the restart, Los Angeles’ offense stalled and they racked up turnovers, starting with James Harden losing three turnovers in the opening minutes of the second half. These offensive wanderings allowed Miami to first tie the game and then build a deficit before the final act began.

– Two-faced James Harden, clumsy Kawhi Leonard at the end. James Harden had a very solid game in the first half with 17 points on 5/10 shooting without the slightest turnover. If he continued to add points in the second period as he finished the night with 29 points, he also increased his turnovers with seven turnovers, the last of which sealed the fate of the match. As for Kawhi Leonard, he missed the game-winning shot as well as a 3-pointer to bring his team closer earlier in the final minute.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.