Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Takeaways: Nikola Jovic Thrives On The Path To Victory
The Miami Heat made a statement on Tuesday night by taking down the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks 123-97.
Here's a look at five major takeaways:
1. Nikola Jovic had the best game of his career.
The 20-year-old Serbian forward often finds himself out of the rotation but took full advantage of his role tonight. The absence of Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson, and Terry Rozier cleared the path for him to start. Jovic tallied 24 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on 61.5 percent shooting and 5 of 8 shooting from three-point range. A career-high in points by a significant margin should prove to coach Erik Spoelstra that he deserves a meaningful spot in the lineup.
2. Duncan Robinson's electric first half gave the team much-needed momentum.
17 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the arc was the perfect energy boost for the Heat in the opening quarters. Robinson dominated in the catch-and-shoot game, knocking down a multitude of long-range three-pointers. He finished the night with 23 points and five assists on 66.7 percent shooting. His impact on the outcome of games proves why he is one of the Heat's many X-factors on the roster.
3. Bam Adebayo used every opportunity to contribute to the Heat's success.
A triple-double for the Heat big man flawlessly summarizes his evening. Adebayo took advantage of whatever look the Bucks' defense decided to show. He recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists on 8 of 14 shooting. Despite the impressive outing, his scoring could have been amplified with more aggression to reach the free-throw line.
4. Damian Lillard struggled to excel on the offensive end.
Lillard is viewed as one of the league's top-scoring guards, but the Heat's discipline shut him down. Lillard concluded the game with 16 points and five assists on 5 of 14 shooting with three turnovers. For the Heat to make a postseason push, their defense must remain at this level.
5. Kevin Love's off-the-bench spark is crucial to winning games.
The veteran forward was signed off the buyout market last season but is more valuable to the Heat's success than most expected. His offensive firepower checking into the game alleviates pressure from Butler, Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. He scored 19 points along with eight rebounds on 75 percent shooting.
Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.
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