Heat Defeat Hawks in Defensive Clash

Miami's stifling defense leads to 116-105 victory over Atlanta

Mar. 1, 2026 at 7:23pm

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The Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks 116-105 in a defensive-minded matchup on Friday night. Despite both teams averaging over 117 points per game this season, the game stayed under the 244.5 point total as the Heat's stifling defense limited the Hawks' offensive production.

Why it matters

This win keeps the Heat in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, while the Hawks continue to struggle to find consistency without their former star Trae Young. The game highlighted the Heat's defensive identity and ability to win low-scoring affairs.

The details

The Heat were led by Tyler Herro's 24 points, while Bam Adebayo added a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Johnson paced the Hawks with 22 points and 9 rebounds, but Atlanta shot just 42% from the field as a team. Miami's defense forced 16 Hawks turnovers and held them to only 105 points.

  • The Heat and Hawks were meeting for the third time this season, with each team having won one of the previous matchups.
  • This was the Heat's first game back from the All-Star break, while the Hawks were playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

The players

Tyler Herro

The Heat's leading scorer this season, Herro poured in a game-high 24 points to pace Miami's offense.

Bam Adebayo

Miami's All-Star center recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the Heat's stifling defense.

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' first-time All-Star had 22 points and 9 rebounds, but Atlanta's offense struggled to find a rhythm against the Heat's defense.

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What they’re saying

“Our defense really set the tone tonight. We knew we had to limit their transition opportunities and make them work for every shot.”

— Bam Adebayo, Center, Miami Heat

“It's tough playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but that's no excuse. We have to find a way to execute better offensively against a team like Miami.”

— Jalen Johnson, Forward, Atlanta Hawks

What’s next

The Heat will look to build on this defensive performance as they continue their playoff push, while the Hawks will try to regroup and find more consistency on offense in their next matchup.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Heat's identity as a defensive-minded team that can win low-scoring affairs, while the Hawks' struggles without Trae Young continue to be a concern as they try to secure a playoff spot in the crowded Eastern Conference.