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Atlanta Hawks will lock horns against Miami Heat in NBA 2021-22 on Saturday, 22 January 2022 at 06:00 AM IST

Erik Spoelstra’s charges are unbeaten in two games against the Atlanta Hawks this season. They won the first game without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo and won the second one without the latter. Both players will play in the upcoming match, but the Miami Heat will be without Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro.

The Heat will count on their suddenly impressive depth to seal the season series against last season’s Eastern Conference finalists.

The Atlanta Hawks will try to extend a modest two-game run and get over the hump this season against the Miami Heat. Superstar point guard Trae Young has been very impressive in the last few games and will continue to lead the host team.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat continue to look at adversity with disdain this season. After getting Bam Adebayo back from injury, they will not have Kyle Lowry for a third straight game. They will also miss Tyler Herro, who just entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

Despite players coming in and out of the lineup, including their superstars, the Miami Heat have surged to a 15-5 record in their last 20 games. They are now technically tied with the Chicago Bulls for the best record in the East.

The game against the Portland Trail Blazers was the perfect example of how resilient and stubborn they have been. They lost Herro before the game and saw Jimmy Butler get ejected less than 24 minutes later. They responded with yet another impressive showing from unheralded players like Caleb Martin and Max Strus.

The team is looking more and more like a legitimate contender to challenge this year’s title.

Key Player - Jimmy Butler

Backup center Dewayne Dedmon has been joking with the media, telling them that they don’t need Jimmy Butler to win games. The Miami Heat are 12-6 this season without their vocal leader. But this team is a reflection of the bruising forward’s identity and playing style. They are, without question, a significantly better team, with the snarling Butler displaying his all-around performance.

The five-time All-Star is averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.9 steals per contest. Without Herro and Lowry in the lineup, he became their de facto playmaker. He dished out three assists in 15 minutes before his ejection against the Blazers.

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are 7-13 in their last 20 games and have struggled until they scored an upset victory over the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks. They then won two straight games in a long while with a big comeback against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Nate McMillan, who’s known as a defensive coach, has got his work cut out for him. In the last 20 games, the Atlanta Hawks’ defense has been the worst in the league by a ridiculous margin. Their defensive rating of 120.4 is nearly 6 points worse than the bottom-ranked defensive rating of the Houston Rockets.

At the other end of the floor, their offensive rating of 115.4 in the same span is second behind the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately, when the Atlanta Hawks have an off-night, their defense is unable to get them out of trouble. They need to be consistent on both ends to string more wins together and get back into playoff contention.

Key Player - Trae Young

Trae Young is the only player in the NBA this season that is ranked in the top five in assists and points. He is fifth in scoring with 27.9 PPG, highlighted by 37.2 shooting from beyond the arc. The former Atlanta Hawks All-Star is third in assists with 9.5 APG. His assist percentage, 47.5%, leads the league by a good margin.