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Hawks-Heat: 56k | 300k |
Jones was 5-of-5 from the field in the opening quarter and tied his own team season high for points in a period, helping Miami to a 36-20 lead. The Heat continued to take advantage of the porous Hawks' defense, stretching their advantage to 73-42 at halftime.
"We didn't take anything for granted," Miami coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We played at a high energy level. ... It was obviously a great night. It was just a phenomenal half where everything came together."
Jones registered 20 points and Wade 18 by the break as Miami posted its top first-half output of the season and established the biggest halftime lead in team history.
"I just felt good," said Jones, who was coming off a 3-of-14 shooting performance Monday. "I was really upset with myself the other night. All of those open shots I had the other night were bricking. At practice, I took the same shots and made them. I just focused."
"Eddie got off to a great start and he fueled the rest of us," Wade said.
Miami shot 62 percent (26-of-42) in the opening half and made all but one of 11 3-point attempts.
"They shot the (lights) out of it the first half," Atlanta coach Terry Stotts said. "The one 3-pointer they missed, they got the rebound and made a three. Essentially, they were 10-for-10."
"They shot the ball well, 10-for-11 from 3-point range in the first half," Hawks guard Jason Terry added. "Even if you trade two for three, you'll still have a sizable deficit. And we weren't even getting two."
With their reserves playing most of the second half, the Heat rang up their highest point total since Nov. 2, 1999. The victory margin was Miami's largest of the season and set a team record at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Brian Grant added 17 points for the Heat, who have won three in a row following a five-game losing streak.
"We've been on the other end of it," Grant said. "It's nice to go out there and see everything you put up go in. The whole team was having fun and the crowd was having fun."
Chris Crawford had 21 points and Terry 18 for Atlanta, which has dropped three of four.
"It was a tough situation, but we just didn't come to play tonight, the guys who were out there," Hawks center Joel Przybilla said.
The Hawks were within 12-7 five minutes into the contest, but the Heat closed the first quarter with a 24-13 burst. Atlanta got no closer than 11 points in the second period and a 3-pointer by Jones with 20 seconds to go put Miami ahead 73-40.
The Heat are 16-10 at home, matching last season's win total at AmericanAirlines Arena.
