Heat 143, Hawks 117: Miami Finishes Strong at Home

The Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks 143-117 on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Kaseya Center, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading Miami with 26 points in a fast-paced home win. Miami shot 55.8 percent from the field and steadily widened the margin after taking control early.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Miami opened the game with strong offensive rhythm and moved in front 33-24 by the end of the first. The Heat created quality looks throughout the quarter, and their ball movement set the tone for a productive night. Atlanta stayed within reach, but Miami’s efficiency gave the home team an early cushion.

Second Quarter

The Hawks responded with their best offensive stretch in the second, scoring 37 points to match Miami’s 37. Buddy Hield helped keep Atlanta in the game, and the visitors found success from the perimeter. Even so, the Heat maintained their advantage and went into halftime ahead 70-61 after matching Atlanta possession for possession.

Third Quarter

Miami tightened up after halftime and outscored Atlanta 29-23 in the third. Bam Adebayo’s presence on the glass and Miami’s continued passing helped the Heat extend the lead to 99-84. The Hawks had difficulty trimming the margin as Miami continued to convert at a high rate.

Fourth Quarter

The Heat removed any remaining doubt in the final period, outscoring the Hawks 44-33. Miami’s offense stayed sharp deep into the quarter, and the home side kept generating clean scoring chances in transition and in the half court. By the final minutes, the Heat had fully separated and closed out a 26-point result.

Key Performers

Miami Heat
Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 26 points, setting the scoring pace in a balanced attack. Bam Adebayo added 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals for a complete two-way performance, while Tyler Herro directed the offense with 8 assists. As a team, the Heat finished with 34 assists on 58 made field goals, a strong indicator of how well the offense flowed all night.

Atlanta Hawks
Buddy Hield led all Hawks scorers with 31 points and provided consistent shot-making across four quarters. Asa Newell collected 10 rebounds, and Keshon Gilbert handed out 9 assists as Atlanta generated 30 team assists. The Hawks also made 17 three-pointers, but they were unable to keep pace with Miami’s overall efficiency.

NerdSports Stat: Miami scored 143 points with only 12 made free throws, meaning 91.6 percent of the Heat’s offense came from field goals — an unusually high share for a team that also posted 34 assists.

Game Analysis

This game turned on Miami’s combination of efficiency and depth. The Heat shot 58-for-104 from the field and 15-for-37 from three-point range, consistently creating good shots without needing an unusually large edge at the foul line. Their 34 assists reflected a connected offense that kept Atlanta rotating throughout the game.

Rebounding was even at 46-46, and Atlanta had solid moments offensively, especially in the second quarter. But Miami separated itself by converting more cleanly inside the arc, sustaining its pace for all four quarters, and finishing stronger late. The 44-point fourth quarter showed how difficult Miami was to slow down once it found its rhythm.

For Atlanta, the perimeter production was respectable, and Hield’s 31-point outing stood out. Still, allowing 143 points on 55.8 percent shooting left little margin for error. The Hawks needed more stops in the third and fourth quarters and could not consistently disrupt Miami’s half-court execution.

Closing Context

The win moved Miami to 43-39, giving the Heat a positive finish at home with a 26-15 record in Miami. Atlanta closed at 46-36 after going 22-19 on the road. With the regular season complete, both teams now turn their focus to Eastern Conference postseason positioning and the matchups that follow.

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