BBNBA: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro put Miami back on top in East

Good morning, BBN. While the NBA Playoffs draw closer each day, former ‘Cats are getting it done in the home stretch of the 2022 season. Let’s find out who.

Miami Heat snap four-game losing streak

After a four-game skid — its largest of the 2021-22 season — the Heat are officially back in business. Last night, Miami pummeled Sacramento 123-100. The 23-point victory is the team’s largest since they beat Atlanta by 24 in January.

Miami was led by 27 points from six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, who dished out seven assists as well. Former Kentucky star Bam Adebayo followed with 22 points and 15 rebounds. His fellow former Wildcat Tyler Herro contributed 20 points off the bench, along with five rebounds and six assists. Herro was 8 of 15 from the field (4 of 8 from three). “It felt amazing to get back in the winning column,” he said after the game.

"Herro…took him to the schoolyard then ate his lunch" 💀@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/Z6e5bKy4zn

— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) March 29, 2022

The Kings were without star point guard and John Calipari protege De’Aaron Fox. Fox was ruled out of last night’s game due to a hand injury. Rookie guard Davion Mitchell picked up some slack with his 21 points and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough. Former Kentucky big Trey Lyles, who recently joined the Kings, added 11 points and six rebounds.

The win put the Heat back atop the Eastern Conference once again. They now sit a game ahead of No. 2 Milwaukee and No. 3 Philadelphia — both are 46-28, but the Bucks hold the tiebreaker. The Boston Celtics led the East on Monday morning, but fell to fourth after a loss to Toronto in OT.

Knicks record fourth straight win

Though it might be too late to save their postseason playoffs hopes, the New York Knicks are putting up a fight nonetheless. Last night, the Knicks held off the Chicago Bulls 109-104 for their fourth consecutive win.

Following the win, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized his effort to get his younger players some experience — which he certainly is doing. RJ Barrett led New York with 28 points, going 2-of-3 from the three-point line. Obi Toppin got some valuable minutes off the bench as well, ending with 17 points.

Toppin played most of the fourth quarter in place of Julius Randle. Though Randle typically plays around 35 minutes per game, the former ‘Cat played just 28 in this one. He struggled offensively, going 0-of-4 from the three-point line. However, he was able to snag 13 rebounds and dish out four assists. Immanuel Quickley finished with eight points of his own.

OBI with the BIG 3️⃣! pic.twitter.com/NNGzOsuI8F

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 29, 2022

Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan led with 37 points, six rebounds and seven assists. DeRozan is the league’s leading fourth-quarter scorer and it showed on Monday night. The veteran guard scored 15 of his points in the final quarter until New York was finally able to stop him with just under a minute left. Following the loss, Chicago now sits tied with Toronto for fifth in the East.

Spurs inch closer to playoffs with win over Rockets

The San Antonio Spurs are eying the final play-in spot in the Western Conference — and they’re getting close. On Monday night, the Spurs narrowly defeated the Houston Rockets 123-120 to move within half a game of the L.A. Lakers for the 10th spot in the West. It was the fourth straight victory for the Spurs as they look toward the playoffs.

Dejounte Murray posted a career-high 33 points for San Antonio in the win. Murray was instrumental on both ends of the court, though. He went 11 of 18 from the field and ended with seven rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and two blocks. Keldon Johnson added 21 points and nine rebounds of his own. The Spurs outscored their in-state counterpart 72-30 in the paint.

KJ trying to get a @NFL training camp invite this summer 👀 pic.twitter.com/ybV3y2YA78

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 29, 2022

The Rockets are sitting comfortably at last in the Western Conference. Despite that fact, they still put up a valiant effort. Jalen Green led with 30 points while Kevin Porter Jr. and Josh Christopher added 26 and 20 of their own, respectively. Having already been eliminated from this year’s playoffs, the Rockets have no choice but to look to the future.

Full stats from last night’s games:

Player	Result	Points	FG (3PA)	Rebounds	Assists	Steals	Blocks	Turnovers	Minutes	+/-
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	123-100 W over Kings	22	10-16	15	1	2	1	2	32	+24
Keldon Johnson (SA)	123-120 W over Rockets	21	7-17 (1-6)	9	4	2	0	2	36	+2
Tyler Herro (MIA)	123-100 W over Kings	20	8-15 (4-8)	5	6	0	0	2	29	+16
Olivier Sarr (OKC)	134-131 W over Trail Blazers	12	5-7 (0-1)	55	0	2	0	2	35	-3
Trey Lyles (SAC)	123-100 L to Heat	11	4-10 (0-3)	6	2	0	0	2	31	-15
P.J. Washington (CHA)	113-109 L to Nuggets	10	4-7 (2-4)	6	4	0	1	1	29	-2
Immanuel Quickley (NY)	109-104 W over Bulls	8	1-5 (1-3)	1	4	0	0	0	27	-2
Demarcus Cousins (DEN)	113-109 W over Hornets	6	2-3 (0-1)	4	0	0	0	3	12	-14
Julius Randle (NY)	109-104 W over Bulls	5	1-9 (0-4)	13	4	0	1	3	28	+7

Tonight in the NBA:

7:00 p.m. – Bucks at 76ers (Maxey)

7:00 p.m. – Bulls at Wizards

7:30 p.m. – Pistons (Diallo) at Nets

7:30 p.m. (TNT) – Lakers (Monk) at Mavericks

10:00 p.m. (TNT) – Jazz at Clippers (Boston)