⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Heat got 8 points ahead of the pace we expected in the third quarter and stayed there.
Where it moved
▲ MIA better than we expected
▼ HOU better than we expected
The third quarter was where it moved most, 14 points better than our numbers for the Heat.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Heat won, and why the Rockets did not.
From the game
Made nineteen threes to their nine- Won the glass, 52 rebounds to 41
- A 14-0 run stretched a 15-point lead to 29 in the fourth quarter
- Could not get to the line, seven free throws to their seventeen
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Heat
Good plays
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run stretched a 1-point lead to 9
Q1 8:43 · MIA 13-4 HOU
- 13-0 run
A 13-0 run stretched a 4-point lead to 17
Q3 4:35 · MIA 89-72 HOU
- 14-0 run
A 14-0 run stretched a 15-point lead to 29
Q4 5:34 · MIA 111-82 HOU
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
Rockets
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run cut a 29-point deficit to 20
Q4 2:55 · MIA 111-91 HOU
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
📊The numbers
| MIA | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| 48% | Shooting from the field | 39% |
| 19 | Threes made | 9 |
| 40% | Three-point accuracy | 24% |
| 4 | Free throws made | 16 |
| 52 | Rebounds | 41 |
| 11 | Offensive rebounds | 6 |
| 31 | Assists | 20 |
| 48 | Points in the paint | 44 |
| 11 | Fast break points | 12 |
| 13 | Points off turnovers | 13 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 13 |
| 7 | Steals | 8 |
| 5 | Blocks | 3 |
