The rising Heat

The Miami Heat are third in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-6 record. They have won two straight, including Monday’s entertaining back-and-forth, 110-105 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls.

Jimmy Butler, the catalyst of the Heat’s all-around offensive attack, is coming off a great week. He has a pair of triple-doubles in his last four games (27.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 8.5 APG) and is also shooting over 48% from the floor. It should be a good momentum builder for tomorrow as he struggled in the team’s two wins over the Atlanta Hawks this season (13 PPG on 33.3% shooting).

Aside from Butler (20.6 PPG), the Heat have five other active players averaging in double figures – Goran Dragic, Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson. Herro, Miami’s prized rookie, is also on the heels of a heroic performance, where he notched 27 points and three key trifectas late in the game.

The Heat are 2-0 against the Hawks this season a perfect 10-0 at home.

Still young, still developing

The Hawks are still in the middle of re-building, and thus, rank among the worst teams in the East. They have won two of their last three games but are only 6-17 overall and place just 13th in the conference.

Sweet-shooting, high-scoring, second-year point guard Trae Young remain as the Hawks’ best weapon. He’ll look to fully unleash that offensive prowess on the Heat as he came out early in the first meeting due to an ankle injury and then sat out the second one. The 22-year-old is averaging 28.8 points and 8.4 assists per game on the year, and 35.8 PPG in his last five.

There’s not much threat in the ATL outside of Young. Jabari Parker (16.2 PPG) and rookie DeAndre Hunter (12.1 PPG) are the second and third scorers with John Collins still serving suspension.

The Hawks are only 3-9 on the road this season. They are also on the bottom three in points allowed (117.3 PPG) and defensive efficiency

PREDICTION:

The Heat remain unbeaten at home with a 115-106 win.