Miami Heat defeat Atlanta on NBA playoff series opener

Miami Heat substitute Duncan Robinson scored a career-high 27 points and the team dominated Atlanta on defence in the NBA playoff series opener on Sunday, winning 115-91.

Robinson dominated for the Heat, who took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series after hitting 9-of-10 shots, including 8-of-9 from 3-point range. Jimmy Butler added 21 points and P.J. Tucker added 16 for the Heat, who took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series.

“We saw the confident Duncan,” Butler said. “He doesn’t care what anybody thinks. He saw some threes and he made them and that’s what we need from him.”

The Hawks and their star guard Trae Young had a bad night against the Dolphins’ defence.

Young had a season-low eight points on 1-of-12 shooting and 0-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.

“Just make it physical on him, challenge every shot, make him pass,” Butler said of the Heat’s strategy to shut down Young. “He can score in bunches and we don’t want him to do that.”

Atlanta had its worst shooting quarter and half of the season to start the season. The Hawks trailed only 23-17 after the first quarter, despite shooting 3-of-17 from the field.

Miami took a 59-40 halftime advantage after a second-quarter outburst.

The Hawks went 11-for-38 in the first half, with Young going 1-of-9.

Asked if their defensive scheme had worked perfectly, Butler admitted, “We were really close. They missed a lot of shots.”

The Hawks welcomed forward John Collins back after missing the previous 18 games due to foot and finger injuries, but they were without standout big man Clint Capela, who was out with a right knee ailment.

Later on Sunday, Brooklyn took on Boston, Chicago took on defending champion Milwaukee, and New Orleans took on Phoenix.