Nov 17, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Miami Warmth heart Bam Adebayo (13) holds the ball whereas Indiana Pacers heart Myles Turner (33) defends within the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Necessary Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photos The well-rested Miami Warmth, led by captain Bam Adebayo, are set to host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday evening.
Miami has been off since Monday, whereas Dallas beat the host Denver Nuggets 123-120 on Friday evening.
Adebayo, 27, is a three-time All-Star, however he seems to be struggling together with his position of captain, which he assumed after Udonis Haslem retired in the summertime of 2023.
“Do I hate it? Yeah, but it surely’s the duty I have been handled,” Adebayo mentioned on Friday in an interview with Clutch Factors. “It is like something — execs and cons.”
Adebayo defined that he likes the title … till it is time to act.
“They put you on this position the place they need you to convey everyone (up) with you,” Adebayo mentioned. “That is sort of the captain’s position, with the ability to have everyone motivated, (participant) one by 15.”
Adebayo, who mentioned he nonetheless will get recommendation from Haslem, is by no means proud of Miami’s 6-7 begin.
“That is under common,” he mentioned.
Miami’s prime participant up to now this season has been Tyler Herro. The guard is averaging 24.2 factors and 5.2 assists — each tops on the workforce — whereas capturing 48.6 p.c general and 45.2 p.c from 3-point vary. All these stats are on tempo to be profession highs for the sixth-year professional.
Adebayo’s numbers are down, nevertheless. Final season, he averaged 19.3 factors and a career-high 10.4 rebounds whereas capturing 52.1 p.c from the ground and 35.7 p.c from deep. This season, he’s posting 16.3 factors and 9.5 rebounds per sport on 42.6 p.c capturing (31.3 p.c from distance).
Jimmy Butler, a six-time All-Star and the third member of Miami’s “Massive Three,” is averaging 17.7 factors, which is effectively under final season’s stat line (20.8). Butler did not observe on Saturday and is questionable for Sunday’s sport with an sickness, per the South Florida Solar Sentinel.
The Warmth could also be down Butler, however the Mavericks know they’re going to be with out celebrity guard Luka Doncic, who stays sidelined with a strained proper wrist. Doncic, a five-time All-Star and the reigning NBA scoring champ, leads Dallas in factors (28.1), assists (7.6) and steals (1.6).
Nonetheless, the Mavericks have received 4 straight after shedding 4 in a row.
Dallas slipped previous Denver regardless of Doncic’s absence and a scoreless evening from Klay Thompson (0-for-8 from the ground), as a substitute counting on double-digit scoring efforts from seven gamers.
Naji Marshall scored a career-high 26 factors off the bench, whereas Dereck Vigorous II made a big contribution with 11 factors on 4-for-4 capturing and two key blocks with the rating tied within the ultimate two minutes.
“It is a character sport for us,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd mentioned after the win, per The Dallas Morning Information. “I feel we realized from that scenario — with the ability to hold our composure.”
Kyrie Irving, second on the Mavericks with 23.9 factors per sport, had 19 on Friday. The eight-time All-Star can be averaging 5.3 assists whereas capturing 53.2 p.c from the ground and 51.2 p.c past the arc.
Sunday’s sport continues an all-time sequence that features two NBA Finals matchups. Miami dispatched Dallas 4-2 for its first title in 2006 earlier than the Mavericks beat the Warmth in six video games for his or her first championship in 2011.
–Subject Degree Media
