Miami hosts Atlanta to begin playoffs
Atlanta Hawks (43-39, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (53-29, first in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
LINE: Heat -6.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Heat host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks to begin the Eastern Conference first round. Miami went 3-1 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Heat won the last regular season meeting 113-109 on April 9 led by 24 points from Bam Adebayo, while Trae Young scored 35 points for the Hawks.
The Heat are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. Miami is second in the Eastern Conference with 25.5 assists per game led by Kyle Lowry averaging 7.5.
The Hawks are 9-7 against the rest of the division. Atlanta has a 21-28 record against opponents above .500.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Herro is averaging 20.7 points and four assists for the Heat. Jimmy Butler is averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games for Miami.
Young is scoring 28.4 points per game and averaging 3.7 rebounds for the Hawks. Bogdan Bogdanovic is averaging 3.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Atlanta.
LAST 10 GAMES:
INJURIES: Heat: Tyler Herro: day to day (knee), Dewayne Dedmon: day to day (ankle), P.J. Tucker: out (calf), Bam Adebayo: out (health and safety protocols).
Hawks: Clint Capela: day to day (knee), Lou Williams: day to day (back), John Collins: out (finger/foot).
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