Adebayo has averaged 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists over his last four games. Compared to his season averages of 22.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, that is a small increase.
“We’re putting a lot of our actions through Adebayo,” Erik Spoelstra, the coach of the Heat, stated. Adebayo will attempt to maintain his momentum on Sunday night when Miami hosts the Charlotte Hornets, who are having a difficult season. The Hornets have dropped their last four games.
Looking further back, they have lost 15 of the previous 16 games. The San Antonio Spurs defeated Charlotte 135–99 on Friday. Considering that the Spurs had a 6-30 record going into the game and that they are still the weakest team in the Western Conference despite their victory, it was an embarrassing loss.
The Hornets are happy to report that standout point guard LaMelo Ball, who missed 20 games due to an ankle injury, is back. In his first game since November 26, Ball finished with 28 points, five assists, and five steals. “Going back out there was cool,” Ball remarked.
However, due to a bruised back, Brandon Miller of Charlotte, the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had to leave Friday’s game. Gordon Hayward (strained left calf), P.J. Washington (sprained right foot), and Mark Williams (bruised back) are already out of the lineup for the Hornets.
This season, all three of those players have started with at least ten games. Two of Miami’s top three scorers, Jimmy Butler (toe) and Tyler Herro (shoulder), are among the team’s own injuries. Additionally missing Miami’s 99-96 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Friday was Kyle Lowry (hand).
Together, Herro and Butler score 43.3 points per game on average. That’s where Adebayo enters the picture. On Friday night, Miami overcame Orlando in an all-Florida matchup when he made the game-winning free-throw line jumper with 18 seconds remaining.
Adebayo recorded his fourth consecutive double-double with a final line of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Players like Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have filled the gaps left by Butler, Herro, and Lowry in addition to Adebayo.
For instance, Jaquez scored 19 points and Robinson scored a team-high 23 points against Orlando. Caleb Martin, who had missed the previous seven games, made a successful comeback on Friday, scoring 11 points for Miami.
The forward’s darting dribbles at the hoop give the squad vitality and athleticism. Robinson and Jaquez will continue to be vital for Miami. In his sixth season in the league, Robinson is averaging a career-high 14.2 points per game while shooting 86.2 percent from the free throw line and 41.4 percent from three point range.
This season, he has made significant progress in driving to the hole and fake shots. Jaquez, who turns 23 next month, is older than most rookies. His advanced age has given him a sophisticated game full of different plays. His averages are 14.0 points, 2.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds.
Ball leads the Hornets in both assists (8.0) and scoring (24.9). But because of injuries, he has only appeared in 16 games. In 25 games (all starts), Terry Rozier is averaging 23.9 points and 6.8 assists.
Miles Bridges is averaging 20.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 25 games (23 starts). The highly regarded rookie Miller leads the Hornets in both games played (32) and starts (26). With a score of 13.9, he comes in fifth.
If Miller, Hayward (14.5 average), Washington (13.1), and Williams (12.7) are all sidelined, the Hornets’ offence will struggle. Miller, Rozier, Ball, Bridges, and Hayward have rarely been available at the same time for the Hornets.