Tyler Herro helps Miami Heat slide past Atlanta Hawks

NEW DELHI: In an exciting matchup, the Miami Heat secured a 122-113 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, fueled by Tyler Herro's team-high 30 points and a stellar performance from Duncan Robinson, who scored 21 of his season-high 27 points in the fourth quarter. The Heat, missing Jimmy Butler due to a calf injury, won their third game in four tries.Herro, making a season-high seven 3-pointers, played a pivotal role in Miami's success. Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributed 19 points, and Bam Adebayo added 18. The Heat faced a strong challenge from the Hawks, led by Trae Young, who matched Herro's seven 3-pointers and recorded 30 points and 13 assists. Dejounte Murray chipped in with 24 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 23 for the Hawks.The game featured back-and-forth runs, with Atlanta starting the second half on a 13-0 run to take a 73-62 lead. Miami responded with an 11-0 surge, tying the score at 73. Jaquez's mid-range jumper gave Miami an 86-81 lead in the third quarter, but the Hawks stayed close, trailing by only two points entering the fourth quarter.In the final quarter, Robinson took over, scoring 21 points and securing the win for the Heat. Herro's shot-clock-beating 3-pointer extended the lead to 114-105 with 2:01 remaining. Despite Young's late efforts, including a triple to cut the deficit to five points, the Hawks couldn't overcome the Heat, suffering their second loss to Miami this season.The Heat had a strong start, jumping out to a 15-3 lead in the first four minutes, and ended the first quarter with a 33-26 advantage, thanks to Herro's 14 points. The second quarter saw a scoring showcase from Bogdanovic, who scored 17 of his 20 first-half points in the quarter. However, Miami maintained a narrow 62-60 lead at halftime.Notably, De'Andre Hunter was a late scratch for the Hawks due to a knee injury, with Garrison Matthews earning a start in his place. The absence of Jimmy Butler didn't hinder the Heat's performance, as they showcased depth and resilience to secure the win against the Hawks.(With Reuters inputs)