Duncan Robinson makes eight 3s, Heat top Hawks in Game 1

Duncan Robinson couldn’t miss shots. Trae Young couldn’t make shots.

In simplest terms, that’s how Game 1 went for Miami and Atlanta.

Robinson came off the bench to set a franchise playoff record with eight 3-pointers, and the top-seeded Heat forced Young into matching the worst-shooting game of his career on the way to a 115-91 win over the eighth-seeded Hawks in the opener of an Eastern Conference first-round series Sunday. Robinson stated that it is always nice to throw a first punch. “But it’s only winning one game in the grand scheme. “

Robinson scored 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting for the Heat, 8 of 9 from 3-point range. Jimmy Butler scored 21, P.J. Tucker added 16 and Kyle Lowry had 10.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Duncan Robinson #55 of the Miami Heat shoots a three pointer over Gorgui Dieng #10 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round at FTX Arena on April 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida.
(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

But this wasn’t about offense for Miami. It was all about defense. Even Erik Spoelstra, the Heat coach, spent some possessions in a defensive position, clapping his hands, and pleading with his team to dig deeper on that side of the floor.

” You must be on the edge,” Spoelstra stated. The edge for Miami was razor-sharp. Young went 1 for 12, matching his effort against Chicago on Jan. 23, 2019. Young stated that they deserved credit. They were aggressive. “

Danilo Gallinari led Atlanta with 17 points. De’Andre Hunter scored 14 for the Hawks and John Collins added 10.

Game 2 will be Tuesday.

” I thought Miami played at a different level,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan stated. “We discussed that in our locker room. That in the playoffs there’s another level that you have to reach. … They showed us tonight that there is another level we need to reach in order to be competitive in these playoffs. “

Robinson broke the record of seven 3s that he previously shared with Damon Jones and Mike Miller.

He sizzled. The Hawks failed to win.

Young, who saw everything from traps and full-court pressure, was 0 for 7, shooting from 3-point range. He finished with eight points, which is a season low. Bogdan Bogdan Bogdanovic missed all eight shots and the Hawks never led beyond a short edge in the first minutes.

Butler shared the Heat’s game plan for Young defense: “Just make it physical, challenge every shot and keep him off of the free throw line and make them pass,” he said.

It worked.

” Young stated that he is confident that we will turn this around.

Atlanta won Game 1s by a score of 3-0 last year. All three wins were on the road and came by two, four, and three points respectively.

That was then. This was the half-time score. The Heat set the tone by forcing Atlanta into a 1-for-11 start from the field — free throws were the only thing keeping the game close for much of the first half — and Miami took a 59-40 lead into the break.

A 3-pointer from Kevin Huerter early in the second got Atlanta within 26-20. A 15-6 Heat run, capped by a 3-pointer from Lowry, pushed the lead out to 41-26, and another 3 from Lowry later in the quarter made it 53-34.

Gallinari made a 3-pointer to open the second half, getting the Hawks within 16. The Hawks were unable to get close. The Hawks won the third quarter, and the game was a complete rout.

It was 86-60 after three, the Hawks managing only one more point through 36 minutes than Miami had through 24, and the outcome was decided. A four-point play from Robinson with 8: 54 left was probably the official end to all Atlanta hope, as Miami fans waved their white giveaway rally flags in earnest after the Heat won a home playoff game — excluding the bubble run in 2020, which obviously wasn’t at home — for the first time since 2016.

” I came here to do this.” Tucker stated.

TIP-INS

Hawks: The 19-point halftime deficit was Atlanta’s second-largest of the season. Atlanta trailed Chicago by 21 at the break on Dec. 29. … Atlanta was playing less than 36 hours after arriving in Miami following its play-in victory at Cleveland on Friday. Saturday saw the Hawks settle in Miami at 3 a.m., with Sunday starting at 1 p.m. start.

Heat – Butler, one of the NBA’s best free-throw shooters, started 0 for 3. This is the first time that he has done this in his three Heat seasons. Max Strus, Lowry, Tucker all made their first Miami playoff starts. There have now been 69 players all-time to start a playoff game for the Heat.

ROBINSON’S DAY

Robinson’s eight 3s were the second-most in NBA playoff history by a reserve. Jason Terry had nine for Dallas in a 2011 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. J.R. Smith had eight for Cleveland in a 2015 game, also against Atlanta.

GAME 1 HISTORY

Miami improved to 26-22 all-time in Game 1s, including 20-7 at home — and 12-2 at home when playing host to a Game 1 in Round 1. Atlanta fell to 37-41 all-time in Game 1s, a figure that includes a handful of one-game playoffs from the league’s early days.

COLLINS PLAYS

Collins (foot, finger injuries) played for the first time in 19 games. He was 4 for 6 in 21 minutes, with the Hawks needing extra depth inside with Clint Capela out with a right knee injury.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is Tuesday in Miami.