Nets rout shorthanded Miami Heat to end three-game losing streak

The Nets and Heat met for the third time this month but it was anything but familiar lineup wise.

The Heat were down starters Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson on the second night of a back-to-back. It gave the Nets an advantage they used to power their 112-97 win at Barclays Center Saturday.

It also ended the Nets’ three-game losing streak. All five starters scored in double figures but it was the defense where the Nets (7-8) flexed against a shorthanded team.

The Heat entered Saturday fifth in the league in fewest turnovers per game but had 18. For a Nets team that entered as the league’s worst in creating turnovers, it tied a season-high in forced turnovers.

Coach Jacque Vaughn wanted the Nets to be more physical and it showed by forcing 11 Heat turnovers by halftime. That pace continued to open the third quarter.

After the Heat (10-6) opened their scoring on a Jaime Jaquez Jr. layup, the Nets got consecutive steals from Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton. Claxton followed his theft with a dunk off a lob pass from Spencer Dinwiddie.

The Nets led 67-55 after that and the lead stayed above double digits the rest of the half. They nearly led wire-to-wire as they only trailed for 26 seconds in the first quarter.

Claxton led the defensive effort with three blocks and two steals. Dinwiddie and Bridges also had a pair of steals as the Nets had 11 overall.

Bridges followed up his 45-point game Wednesday with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists. Dinwiddie had his second consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 assists. and became the third Nets player in franchise

Cam Johnson started the game making his first five shot attempts. Johnson had 12 points in the first quarter and it spurred the Nets to an early 23-12 lead.

The Heat then switched to a full-court press and it flustered the Nets into missed shots. It also got the Heat on a 8-0 run, stirring worries of the Nets allowing another late quarter run.

However, Lonnie Walker IV made a three-pointer to push the lead to 26-20. It was the only sign of life as the Nets gave up a 12-3 run to end the first quarter.

This time, the Nets didn’t fold as they held the Heat off throughout the second quarter. Leading 49-45, Bridges started a 12-3 Nets run with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. He ended the run with an assist to Dorian Finney-Smith for a three-pointer.

The Nets led 61-48 at that point and were never threatened again.

Claxton, who had 13 points and six rebounds, briefly left the game after taking a hard fall in the first quarter. He walked on his own to the locker room but returned in the second and finished the game without any issues.

Johnson finished with 19 points and a season-high 10 rebounds for the fourth double-double of his career.

With the game well in hand, rookies Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney made their NBA debuts with 2:35 remaining. Clowney grabbed his first rebound and Whitehead, who had offseason foot surgery after his freshman year at Duke, scored his first NBA point on a free throw.

It added a nice footnote to a win where the Nets’ defense regained its footing. Now they’ll hope it’ll carry over Sunday as they face the Bulls on the second game of a back-to-back.