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Phoenix Suns can protect ball, get bench scoring and other things we learned in road win over Miami Heat

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Phoenix Suns can protect ball, get bench scoring and other things we learned in road win over Miami Heat


MIAMI — The Big 3 and even bigger bench play got the Phoenix Suns back on track in Monday’s 118-105 win at Miami to snap a two-game skid in the second of a road back-to-back.

Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal combined for 61 points and the Suns bench accounted for a season-high 48 points with Eric Gordon scoring a team-high 23, hitting 5-of-12 from 3.

Frank Vogel said pregame the Suns (27-20) were upset with their two losses at Indiana and Orlando in which they folded in the fourth quarter.

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Used a more colorful word than upset, but Vogel shared the same sentiment.

 The Suns responded with one of their better defensive efforts in limiting the slumping Heat (24-23) to 39.3% shooting. Miami has dropped its last seven games and hasn’t won since acquiring Terry Rozier (0-4) in a trade with Charlotte that involved Kyle Lowry.

Jimmy Butler paced Miami with a game-high 26 points.

Here’s what we learned as Suns led by as many as 28 points, but once again had a shaky fourth quarter in which Miami sliced Phoenix’s lead to 10 before Gordon hit a dagger 3 with 1:06 remaining that led to most of the sellout crowd of 19,600 at Kaseya Center heading for the exits.

Sharing is caring, but so is taking care of the ball

The Suns responded to having more turnovers (23) than assists (19) in Sunday’s loss at Orlando to cranking out 30 assists and committing only eight turnovers Monday.

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The Suns would’ve had even more assists by making the open 3s they got. Booker, Durant and Beal each had seven assists a combined for a total of two turnovers.

Durant took his seven turnovers against the Magic personally and only had one in 41 minutes Monday. Beal had the other one of the Big 3 after coughing it up three times in the fourth quarter Sunday wearing a mask that left him visually disturbed and frustrated.

Better vision. Better ball protection. Better play from Beal, who is quietly taking on more a of point guard role, especially with the way Booker has been cooking of late.

By the way, Booker didn’t turn the ball over Monday in 40 minutes.

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The Magic scored 23 points off those 21 turnovers Sunday. Twenty-four hours later, Miami only managed 11 points off those eight turnovers.

Those are the numbers.

Here’s the deep dive.

The Suns had more and better ball movement against Miami’s man and zone principles, but they got some easy ones in transition in the first half. They scored 11 of their 16 transitions points in the first half.

This team could use more fastbreak points. They are 24th in pace and 20th in fastbreak points.

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The Suns have three scorers who are shot makers as Booker finished with 22 points, Durant went for 20 and Beal added 19. All three are capable of 40, 50 or more, but when the Suns play with pace, it leads to transition 3s and it allows guys like Josh Okogie to use his athleticism to make plays.

Ball movement is what can separate the Suns when they make the extra pass with three guys who can score off the dribble or catch-and-shoot, but spacing is everything. The better the spacing, the less Booker, Durant and Beal are playing in a crowd, which tends to lead to turnovers.

And when those three share the ball like they did Monday, that makes it more challenging to not only guard Booker, Durant and Beal, but the team as a whole. The Suns still seem to be finding that fine line between the Big 3 being aggressive to score and aggressive to make a play for someone else.

Sometimes actually running a play instead of giving the ball to one to force the defense to help and adjust can work, too.

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Bench rose to occasion

Drew Eubanks brought energy — and 11 points off the bench — in the first quarter.

Okogie was making those outside-the-points plays with steals and rebounds. So those two 3s he hit were like that thick, wavy icing on the wedding cake in scoring 11 points as well.

So what one was a double clutch off the glass that had Gordon laughing when asked about it after the game. Okogie has watched Grayson Allen become the fifth starter, but seems to have worried less about hitting 3s and more about defending and making energy plays.

And then there’s Gordon, who could start, but with Allen missing the second half with an ankle injury, he got into his offensive bag with the drives and 3s.

The Suns are 28th in bench scoring. Granted their Big 3 is averaging essentially 75 points a game, but they could use more out of their reserves.

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Can’t see Phoenix’s bench going for 48 every night, but the Suns got what they needed from them and then some on a second of a back-to-back. They showed on the road where the stars tend to carry teams that the second unit guys can deliver, too.

Heat culture not enough right now

How Miami goes about their business with toughness, character and discipline defines them just as much as winning three NBA titles and playing in seven finals.

Right now, this team is very much a work in progress.

Trying to work in Rozier, who is best at going one-on-one. He makes oh-ah plays like one that had Durant reeling and then scored, and he can catch fire from 3 (4-of-6), but he’s not an assist guy (only three dimes).

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Rozier was a minus-21 Monday, the worst of any player on the court. The more they can get him on how the Heat play, he could be really special here.

This isn’t the Heat team that could lock it down defensively. They are 13th in defensive rating, but the Heat need to do better when considering they’re 22nd in offensive rating.

Miami has gone from reaching the finals last season to being seventh in the West and 14 games behind the Celtics, the team it beat in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Heat are a long way from that, but don’t dare count them out.

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That wouldn’t be wise.

Injury update: Allen suffers right ankle injury

Allen didn’t play in the second half after spraining his right ankle in Monday’s first half.

He checked out of the game with 3:19 left in the half with three points all on free throws. He only attempted two shots, missing both in 13 minutes.

Vogel said X-rays were negative, and that Allen is day-to-day. Allen has started every game he’s played this season in averaging 13.5 points and leading the NBA in 3-point shooting at 49.8%.

Jusuf Nurkic returned for Monday’s game after sitting out Sunday’s loss at the Magic. He suffered a left thumb sprain on his non-shooting hand in last week’s loss at Pacers.

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Bol Bol remains out with right foot sprain has he has missed nine straight games with the injury. Damion Lee (knee) didn’t make the trip as he hasn’t played all season.

Up next: Durant’s return to Brooklyn

This will be Durant’s first game in Brooklyn since the blockbuster trade right before last season’s trade deadline that sent Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to the Nets.

Brooklyn won in Phoenix this season in the return of Bridges and Johnson to Phoenix.

The Nets (19-27) are 10th in the East as they got Ben Simmons back from back issues for Monday’s game against Utah. His had last played Nov. 6 against Milwaukee.

He’s only played in seven games this season.

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More: Kevin Durant explains why doesn’t deserve a tribute video from Brooklyn Nets

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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Miami, FL

Miami focus on Messi workload, injury prevention

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Miami focus on Messi workload, injury prevention


Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Lionel Messi will train with normality ahead of the match against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday night, dispelling injury rumors.

Concern arose after the captain was subbed off in the second half during the Concacaf Champions League second leg against Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday at Chase Stadium. But the move served as simply precautionary, allowing for the player to rest ahead of the team’s hectic schedule.

“Leo is fine, he is normal and he will train normally like all his teammates,” Mascherano said on Friday.

Former head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino often rested Messi when Inter Miami played three matches in the span of one week, but Mascherano insists every season is different.

Moving forward, as the team competes in the Concacaf Champions League and MLS simultaneously, Mascherano will evaluate when and where Messi will be needed.

“Look, there are not two equal situations. And we have to put everything in context. We played in a knockout round. We started the season in Kansas, where the Champions League is an important competition for us,” Mascherano said.

“We also had the start of the MLS between the two games of the series. It is one of the competitions where we aim to compete and reach the highest possible.

“When we talk about being able to rotate or dose the players, we must see the context. The context is that we had to play three games in six days.

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“We didn’t have the rest that we had to have before, because we were changed on the first match date. It is what it is, we adapt to the circumstances.

“We couldn’t modify anything. We asked to modify it and we couldn’t. Beyond that, obviously we have to try to take care of the players. When we find the right time to rest, we will rest. We will move forward.”

Messi is now in his third season with Inter Miami after joining the MLS club on July 15, 2023 on a two-year contract.

In an interview with Apple Music, the Argentina legend said he always intended to play in the North American league and constantly thought about the decision during his time with Paris Saint-Germain.

“I always had it in my mind to play in MLS,” Messi said. “During my last years in Paris, it was a decision that I had to make quickly because I had to leave Barcelona, those two years were not enjoyable for me.”

“I was not happy on a daily basis … I felt called to come to Inter [Miami] because it is a club that is growing, very new, I liked the idea of coming and helping the club become bigger, and I knew it was a city my family and I would enjoy.”

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Since his arrival at Inter Miami, Messi has led the club to the 2023 Leagues Cup trophy and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield as well as helping the club break the MLS record for most points recorded in a single season.

Now the team will compete in four different tournaments in an attempt to lift another trophy in 2025.



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Miami Beach prepares for Spring Break crowds, hopes to continue downward arrest trend

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Miami Beach prepares for Spring Break crowds, hopes to continue downward arrest trend


MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Tourists from Europe, South America and across the U.S. are descending on South Beach.

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“It’s winter in Italy at the moment, so we are enjoying a bit of summer,” one tourist told Local 10.

But Miami Beach officials want to keep rowdy Spring Break crowds at bay.

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Lines of motorized carts are staged near the Miami Beach Police Department on Washington Avenue for law enforcement and city staff to get around when crowds grow later in March.

Starting Thursday evening, drivers will see barricades blocking off residential areas.

At South Beach parking lots and garages, there’s a $30 flat rate in effect every Thursday through Sunday for the next month.

It’s another year of rules and crackdowns that come as officials hope to curb violence seen in years past.

And it’s working, according to police.

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A spokesperson for the department said last year there was a 24% decrease in felony arrests from the year before.

For complete information on citywide rules and regulations, click here.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



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Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat: Starting Lineups

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Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat: Starting Lineups


The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat are about to tipoff their game tonight and both teams just announced their starting lineups.

G- Trae Young

G – Dyson Daniels

F – Zaccharie Risacher

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F – Mouhamed Gueye

C – Onyeka Okongwu

G – Davion Mitchell

G – Tyler Herro

F – Andrew Wiggins

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F – Bam Adebayo

C -Kel’el Ware

Coming into tonight’s game, the Hawks are 8th in the NBA in PPG, 16th in FG%, 14th in 3PA, 20th in 3P%, 2nd in FTA, 26th in turnovers, and 11th in rebounding. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 17th in points per 100 possessions, 18th in effective field goal percentage, 21st in turnover percentage, 12th in offensive rebounding percentage, and 5th in free throw rate.

Currently, the Hawks rank 27th in PPG allowed, 29th in field goal percentage allowed, 17th in three-point attempts allowed, and 25th in three-point percentage allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Atlanta is 15th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 28th in effective field goal percentage allowed.

Miami ranks 25th in PPG, 22nd in FG%, 10th in 3PA, 16th in 3P%, 18th in FTA, 17th in rebounding, and 6th in turnovers. Per Cleaning the Glass, Miami is 20th in points per 100 possessions, 21st in EFG%, 9th in TOV%, 25th in ORB%, and 12th in FT Rate.

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Defensively, Miami is among the best in the NBA. The Heat are 7th in PPG allowed, 12th in FG% allowed, 20th in 3PA allowed, and 13th in 3P% allowed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Miami is 12th in points allowed per 100 possessions and 14th in EFG% allowed.

After three straight 38-point games, Trae Young’s scoring dipped to 11 points on 4-14 shooting on Monday vs Miami, but Young was still running the offensive effectively and had 14 assists. Miami is always a tough matchup for guards and that will be no different tonight.

Dyson Daniels had a phenomenal game on defense on Monday. Daniels finished with seven steals and held Tyler Herro to 11 points on 4-19 shooting. Daniels also had 10 points and 11 rebounds in what was once of his best performances of the year.

Zaccharie Risacher had a tough offensive game, shooting 1-8, and finished with two points and three rebounds. Sometimes the stats don’t tell the full story, but it was a rough offensive night for Risacher vs the Heat.

Expect Mouhamed Gueye to continue to start and play around 15-16 minutes, unless he is playing exceptionally well on one end of the court. Gueye was solid on Monday with nine points, three rebounds, and three assists.

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Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks in scoring on Monday and bounced back from his tough game against the Pistons on Sunday. Okongwu scored 17 points (7-10 shooting), grabbed eight rebounds and had three assists.

The Hawks bench was one of the main reasons they got the win on Monday. They outscored Miami’s bench 49-24 and Caris LeVert and Georges Niang had 15 points, Terance Mann scored 11 and Clint Capela had eight points and 11 rebounds. Can the Hawks bench have another strong night tonight?

Hawks vs Heat: Game Preview, Injury Report, Odds, And Projected Starting Lineups For Wednesday’s Game

Bam Adebayo’s Updated Injury Status For Tomorrow’s Game vs Atlanta

2025 NBA Mock Draft: Atlanta Hawks Add Two New Frontcourt Pieces In Latest Mock

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