Heat’s Duncan Robinson as Butler, Wade, Giannis, Harden? For one quintessential quarter, yes
MIAMI — This was not false modesty, considering the moment created and the company joined.
“It just sort of happens,” Heat guard Duncan Robinson said after scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s 122-113 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
No, it doesn’t.
Because prior to Friday night, only three other Heat players had scored as many in a fourth quarter over the franchise’s 36 seasons: Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry.
And because prior to Friday night, the only players this season to score as many in a fourth quarter were Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, De’Aaron Fox, Anfernee Simons and James Harden.
Such is the company Robinson joined after shooting 6 of 7 from the field, including 2 of 3 on 3-pointers, as well as 7 of 7 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to help the Heat close out their fifth victory in their past seven games.
“I thought I kind of let the game come to me a little bit,” Robinson understated, “and then just had some opportunities in that second half. So I tried to take advantage and be aggressive.”
This was not just 3-point Robinson. This was a mix of drives, cuts, take-charge moments in the second consecutive victory for the Heat amid the injury absence of Butler.
“It shows you how much he’s improved all across the board,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
By that, Spoelstra meant on both ends, including the defensive assignment against Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who went 0 for 7 in the decisive fourth quarter.
“He had a tough cover in Bogdanovic,” Spoelstra continued, “and they’re an explosive offensive team, they run a lot of different things full speed, and he was able to be in the right spots.”
That defensive effort came after Bogdanovic had erupted for 20 first-half points.
With Butler sidelined for a second consecutive game with a calf strain, one that potentially could also have him out for Monday’s Christmas night game against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, it appeared that it would be Tyler Herro or bust at the close against the Hawks.
But on a night Herro went for 30 points, it was Robinson as closer.
“I think we’re a pretty well-rounded group,” Robinson said. “That’s what makes us hard to prepare for. It’s not necessarily who’s going to step up. Moreso, it’s just going to be a beneficiary of good offense and unselfish play.
“So I just tried to be aggressive in the spots where I kind of got the ball. And once you make a couple of guys start looking for you, and you kind of have that compounding effect.”
In finishing with a season-high 27 points, Robinson closed with the highest-scoring fourth quarter of his career and tied the highest scoring period in his six seasons, having scored 21 in a second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 20, 2019. At 4 of 7 on 3-pointers, he recorded his 11th game this season with at least four.
Streak extended
With Friday’s victory, the Heat extended their regular-season home winning streak against Southeast Division opponents to 20, tying the franchise record set from March 9, 2004 to March 24, 2006. The Heat’s next home divisional game is Jan. 12 against the Magic. …
The Heat now have averaged 65.3 points in the first half of their past three games, with 66 in the first half in the loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 68 in the first half of Wednesday night’s road victory over the Orlando Magic, and then 62 Friday night. …
Herro has now scored in double figures in the first quarter, including 14 on Friday night, in each of the three games back since missing 18 with a sprained right ankle, averaging 27.7 points over those three games. …
With the exception of his single-digit scoring game when he played only the first half against the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 30 due to a hip contusion, Heat center Bam Adebayo has now scored at least 18 points in each of his 18 full games. He closed with 18 points, 11 rebounds and a team-high six assists Friday. Adebayo’s first assist Friday was the 1,500th of his career.