Miami beat Atlanta 129-117 for its first win, ending a four-game losing streak. Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 18 rebounds, and the Heat built the game in a 69-56 first half.
Streak Over
The Heat finally have one. They went into Atlanta with no wins and a power ranking that had fallen from 13th to 29th in a week, and they left with a 129-117 win. Antetokounmpo carried it with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 3 assists. Kingston Flemings led the Hawks with 23. Atlanta played short-handed: Mouhamed Gueye (left foot) and Henri Veesaar (right knee) were both out.
Where It Turned
It was 12-12 when Quin Snyder called time in the first quarter. Miami closed the period on an 8-0 burst to go up 34-22 and led 34-25 after one. Atlanta scored 10 straight to cut it to 34-32 early in the second. The game had six lead changes and five ties, but the Hawks never led by more than 3. A 7-0 Miami run forced another Snyder timeout at 49-40, and 35 second-quarter points sent the Heat in up 69-56. Miami's biggest lead was 13.
Grades
Mitchell, A-minus: 6 points, 5 assists and one turnover in 17 first-half minutes, with the best plus-minus on the team at +13. Portis, A: 11 points on 5-of-9, two steals, a block, no turnovers and +12 in 13 minutes off the bench. Wiggins, B-plus: 11 points on 4-of-5 with three made threes in 13 minutes, a needed answer after his 7-point night against Minnesota. Adebayo, B-minus: 13 points on 5-of-9 and +10, but one rebound and two turnovers in 17 minutes is not enough from a center.
Who Finished
Spoelstra closed with Mitchell, Klay Thompson, Wiggins, Antetokounmpo and Adebayo, against Atlanta's McCollum, Daniels, Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Okongwu. Antetokounmpo had the lowest first-half plus-minus among the regulars at +2 in 13 minutes, but his 10 rebounds by the break excuse it. Tim Hardaway Jr. was +3 in 9 minutes. Nikola Jovic made both of his shots in 7 minutes, and the Miami Herald reported his minutes have been cut again. Jalen Johnson had 8 assists for Atlanta and was still -15 at the half.
Bottom Line
One win fixes the record, not the defense. Atlanta still scored 117, and the leaks from the four losses did not go away. Indiana comes to Miami on Oct. 30 after two days off, and Fontecchio, out with an illness, has an estimated return that same day. Then the Heat go west to face the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors and Kings. Orlando sits 10th at 1-2. Miami has to win the Pacers game before that trip starts.
Did the Heat beat the Hawks?
Yes. Miami won 129-117 in Atlanta on Oct. 28, its first win of the season, ending a four-game losing streak.
How did Giannis Antetokounmpo play against the Hawks?
He led all scorers with 24 points and added 18 rebounds and 3 assists. Ten of those rebounds came in the first half.
