The Heat won the game against the Hawks in the fifth game of the series. (0:28)
The Heat were missing two of their starters but still barely missed a beat in Tuesday's 97-94 Game 5 win over the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Miami Heat got a lift from an unlikely pair of replacements because of the injuries to Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler.
Max Strus, who was an NBA free agent, and Victor Oladipo, who appeared in just 96 regular-season games the past four years because of knee and quadriceps injuries, were picked up.
In the first five minutes of the game, he scored eight more points than he had in the first four games of the series.
Strus went on a personal 10-0 run in the second quarter that gave the Heat a nine-point lead at the half.
Adebayo had 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting and 11 boards, which included a crucial dunk with 59.2 seconds left off an Oladipo feed that doubled the Heat's lead from two to four to help stave off a late Atlanta rally.
Miami used 23 different starting lineups during the regular season, but it was a total team effort from the Heat.
On the defensive end of the court, Miami was on full display, holding Trae Young to 11 points on 2-for-12 shooting (0-for-5 from 3) and six turnovers.
Young had more turnovers than field goals in five of his six games this season.
The Hawks had a chance to tie it with a 3 off an inbounds play with 5.2 seconds left, but Miami stopped them with a signature stop.
Tyler Herro scored 16 points off the bench as he was one of the three finalist for Sixth Man of the Year. It was his 11th career playoff game with at least 15 points as a reserve, extending his lead for the most such games in Heat franchise history.
The winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors first-round series will play Miami, which will give them at least a few days off.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
