The Miami Heat look to extend their winning streak to three games when they begin a four-game road trip on Sunday in Atlanta against the Hawks.
Miami is coming off back-to-back home wins over Washington, most recently 110-107 on Friday. Atlanta blew a 16-point, second-half lead to the four-win Houston Rockets in a 128-122 loss on Friday.
This marks the first of four regular-season meetings between the two clubs. Last season the Heat won three of the four games.
Miami’s Bam Adebayo is coming off a monster game, scoring a season-high 38 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. It was his second time scoring 30-plus, his ninth time with 10-plus rebounds and his ninth double-double of the season. He has been playing with a left knee contusion.
Caleb Martin scored 20 points against Washington and played a sound defensive game against star Bradley Beal.
He’ll get another chance on Sunday when he and his teammates face Atlanta’s prolific backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.
Atlanta wasted a combed 83 points Friday from Young (44) and Murray (39), who both had season highs. Murray bettered his own career high of 36 set earlier this season against the New York Knicks. It was the 28th time Young has topped the 40-point mark in his career.
Atlanta played without center Clint Capela (11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks). He sat out the game with a toothache but is expected to return on Sunday. Onyeka Okongwu struggled to replace him and produced only four points — all of them free throws, as he did not attempt a shot — although he had 11 rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.
The Hawks have scored at least 100 points in each of their first 19 games, the best mark for the franchise since it moved to Atlanta and only two away from matching the record of 21 set by the 1960-61 St. Louis Hawks. Atlanta has scored 100-plus points in 40 straight, the longest active streak in the NBA.
The Heat continue to deal with injuries. Dewayne Dedmon is playing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Tyler Herro has a left ankle sprain and Haywood Highsmith is battling an inflamed right hip. The Heat are also without star Jimmy Butler, who has missed five games with right knee soreness.
