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The Miami Heat were unable to complete a furious second half fightback as the defending NBA champions continued to struggle on the road, falling to a 104-97 loss to the Jazz in Utah on Monday.
LeBron James scored 32 points to help the Heat cut a 21-point deficit to just two when they pulled within 93-91 in the final few minutes, but the Jazz held firm to consign Miami to a third loss in four contests on their six-game road trip.
“The game was too close to be nervous,” Utah big man Al Jefferson told reporters. “I knew they would make their run, they are too good.”
Gordon Hayward scored seven of his 22 points in the final three minutes, Al Jefferson added 23 and 11 rebounds as Utah (21-19) made sure their early hard work would result in a victory. After being buried by the home team’s assault through the first three quarters, Miami (24-12) embarked on a 21-5 spurt in the fourth to get back into the game.
Hayward responded with a pair of jump shots down the stretch and the Jazz made free throws as the Heat misfired. “We can’t dig ourselves a hole,” said James, who moved to within 18 of becoming the youngest NBA player to reach 20,000 career points. “Low energy against a team like this in their building in front of their amazing crowd - we can’t play with low energy.” Chris Bosh added 16 and Dwyane Wade scored 11 for Miami, who were also out-rebounded by a comfortable 40-23 margin.
Wade did not play in the fourth quarter with coach Erik Spoelstra opting for an unconventional lineup. “I don’t know. I just always stay ready,” Wade said. The loss meant Miami’s Eastern Conference lead was trimmed to just half a game ahead of their trip to Golden State today.
With their injured leader Chris Paul down, the Los Angeles Clippers’ bench picked up the slack. Jamal Crawford and fellow reserve Matt Barnes scored 16 points apiece as the short-handed Clippers crushed the Memphis Grizzlies 99-73 Monday night in a mismatch of Western Conference powerhouses.
“We’ve been watching the NBA’s best point guard in the league play every night,” said Crawford, referring to most-valuable-player candidate Paul. “Tonight, we all tried to fill his shoes.”
Paul watched from the bench with a bruised right knee suffered in Saturday’s loss to Orlando as backup Eric Bledsoe filled in admirably for the All-Star, accumulating 14 points, four assists and three steals for the Clippers (29-9), who dominated their lethargic hosts en route to their 21st win in the past 24 games. “Chris just told me to be aggressive from start to finish, and that’s what I tried to do,” said Bledsoe, who was making his first career start. “Jamal told me to stay solid, and I was just trying to lead my team.”
Zach Randolph had 15 points with 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies (24-12), who without starter Rudy Gay, out because of a family funeral, shot a frosty 30 per cent from the field en route to a season-low output.
Chicago Bulls 97, Atlanta Hawks 58
Carlos Boozer had 20 points with 13 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 18 and the defensive-minded Bulls held the visiting Hawks to a franchise-low 20 first-half points en route to the blowout.
“This was very, very embarrassing,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “We have lost all sense of trust for each other. It’s time to shake things up.”
The Bulls roared to 48-20 at halftime after holding their opponents to five second-quarter points. The point difference swelled to 44 before Chicago set a club record for fewest points allowed while sending the Hawks to their second-worst output in a game since the shot clock was instituted in the 1954-55 season.