Kevin Durant's return not enough to beat Bam Adebayo and the Heat / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AFP - Scanpix Credit AFP - Scanpix

Bam Adebayo totaled 30 points and 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat (42-22) overcame a 16-point deficit and held on for a 113-107 (23-35, 37-32, 28-17, 25-23) win over the Brooklyn Nets (32-32) on Thursday night in New York.

Player of the Game EFF 35 Bam Adebayo Points 30 Accuracy 12-15 Rebounds 11 Assists 6

The Heat earned their 10th win in 12 games by outscoring Brooklyn 72-53 in the final 29 minutes.

Adebayo made 12 of 15 shots. His biggest hoop was a 5-footer in the lane with 35.5 seconds left that gave the Heat a 111-107 lead after Brooklyn had scored 10 straight.

Tyler Herro added 27 points and eight assists as the Heat shot 51.9 percent. Caleb Martin contributed 22 points and Max Strus chipped in 21 by hitting six of Miami's 10 3-pointers.

The Heat beat the Nets for the third time this season despite missing three starters. Jimmy Butler sat out with a toe injury, P.J. Tucker was out with a knee injury and Kyle Lowry missed a third straight game due to personal reasons.

Kevin Durant returned from missing 21 games with a sprained MCL in his left knee and scored 31 points for Brooklyn. Durant hit 10 of 21 shots but missed two in the final minute.

Bruce Brown added 21 points and Patty Mills chipped in 14 for Brooklyn, which shot 47 percent.

Durant scored nine points in the first quarter as Brooklyn shot nearly 54 percent and held a 35-23 lead. The Nets opened a 16-point lead midway through the second and led 67-60 at halftime.

The Heat outscored Brooklyn 21-10 over the final 9:07 of the third for an 88-84 lead. Adebayo's dunk forged a 74-74 tie with 7:26 left, and Martin's layup made it 76-74 with 6:52 left.

Goran Dragic's layup got Brooklyn within 94-92 with 9:18 left. Miami countered with a 15-5 run and opened a 109-97 lead on Martin's 3-pointer with 4:21 left.

Nets: Kevin Durant 31 (8/14 2PT, 2/7 3PT, 9/9 FT, 4 AST), Bruce Brown 21 (5/9 2PT, 3/4 3PT), Patrick Mills 14 (4/5 3PT).

Heat: Bam Adebayo 30 (12/15 2PT, 6/8 FT, 11 REB, 6 AST, 4 TO), Tyler Herro 27 (7/14 2PT, 1/5 3PT, 10/10 FT, 8 AST), Caleb Martin 22 (5/6 2PT, 3/5 3PT, 5 REB), Max Strus 21 (6/12 3PT, 5 REB).

Full game highlights:

Kevin Durant highlights:

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