MIAMI — It is the next gear that creates the fear.
Sunday, in Game 1 of this best-of-seven opening-round playoff series, it came in the second quarter, when the Miami Heat decided a rout was better than doubt, in what turned into a 24-point blowout win.
Tuesday night at FTX Arena, Erik Spoelstra’s team this time took it up a level in the third quarter behind the play of Jimmy Butler, on the way to a 115-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Butler led the Heat with a career playoff-high 45 points, an effort that included four 3-pointers.
Up 2-0 in the series, the Heat now head out for Friday and Sunday games at State Farm Arena, having shown Tuesday they can win even when Hawks guard Trae Young actually makes shots and even with center Bam Adebayo yet to hit his series stride.
With Butler’s offense more than enough to offset 25 points from Young, the Heat were able to overcome early turnovers, a shaky close and foul trouble for Adebayo.
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 29 points for the Hawks.
For as good as the Heat were in the third, and for as much as they carried than momentum into the fourth, building a 16-point lead, it still came down to the closing minutes, the Hawks far more competitive than in Game 1.
Five Degrees of Heat from Tuesday’s game:
— 1. Closing time: The Heat led 26-25 at the end of the opening period, 56-54 at halftime and then pushed to a 14-point lead in the third with a 16-4 run before taking an 87-76 lead into the fourth.
The Heat then moved to a 16-point lead early in the fourth, but a 13-0 run drew the Hawks within 94-91 with 6:27 to play.
A 3-point play by Kyle Lowry with 5:41 to go upped the Heat’s lead to 100-93, with a Butler steal and score pushing the lead to 102-93.
But with a Young 3-pointer, the Hawks were back within 102-98 with 4:24 to go, with a Bogdanovic 3-pointer later drawing Atlanta within 104-101.
After the Heat moved ahead 106-101, Spoelstra won a coach’s challenge, Butler drained a 3-pointer and that effectively was it.
— 2. Butler time: There was little pretense from Butler other than eyes on the rim, his 12-point second quarter putting him at 21 points at the intermission.
Butler was 6 of 12 from the field and 7 of 7 from the line in the first half.
From there, there was his third 3-pointer of the night early in the third period, lifting him to 3 of 4 on the night, as part of a personal eight-point burst over 2 1/2 minutes.
He was over 30 points for the night midway through the third period, moments later fouled on a 3-pointer, making all three free throws.
He went into the fourth quarter with 36 points.
— 3. Foul mood: Adebayo, in the midst of an uneven start to the series, was forced to the bench with his fourth foul just 1:22 into the second half.
With backup center Dewayne Dedmon already with three fouls, Spoelstra went with Caleb Martin, who had been out of the rotation and limited to mop-up duty in Game 1. Martin had entered late in the second period, after Adebayo and Dedmon each had been whistled for their third fouls.
The ledger quickly was evened, with Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter and Bogdanovic each called for their fourth fouls shortly thereafter.
But then, with 2:37 left in the third, Heat starting power forward P.J. Tucker was called for his fifth foul.
Adebayo had been limited to six points and six rebounds in Sunday’s series opener.
— 4. Young at start: Limited to eight points in Game 1, Young reached that total with 3:20 left in the opening period, with Atlanta getting out in transition before the Heat established their defense.
Young closed the first quarter with 10 points and was up to 18 at the intermission.
Young had gone 1 of 12 from the field on 0 for 7 on 3-pointers in Sunday’s series opener.
But turnovers also plagued Young, with his ninth giving him the most every in the postseason by a Heat opponent.
— 5. Alternate Atlanta approach: With center Clint Capela questionable for the series after hyperextending his right knee in Friday night’s play-in victory in Cleveland, Atlanta this time opened with a smaller-ball lineup, with John Collins at center.
It was the first start for Collins since March 11. He had been out since then with foot and finger injuries prior to returning as a reserve in Game 1. The Hawks had started Onyeka Okongwu at center in Game 1.
