Tim Hardaway Jr. matched the franchise record with a career-high 10 3-pointers as part of a 36-point effort to help the Dallas Mavericks rally for a 127-113 victory over the host Miami Heat on Tuesday night.
Hardaway matched his career high of nine 3-pointers by knocking one down to make it 112-89 with 7:39 left.
Hardaway made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points during a 20-5 surge that gave Dallas a 91-72 lead with 2:57 left.
Overall, Hardaway scored 18 points during a stanza that concluded with the Mavericks up 98-77.
All of the momentum was in the Heat’s favor in the opening period. Miami scored a game-high 39 points while converting a staggering 8-of-9 (88.9%) from deep. In fact, they even managed to jump out to a 14-3 lead at the 9:43 mark.
The Mavericks’ execution offensively was very strong in the first quarter but they just couldn’t get stops. Dallas put up 30 points while going 60% from the field and 42.9% from deep but still found themselves trailing 39-30.
The circumstances dramatically changed before halftime as the Mavericks became hot from deep while the Heat sorely struggled. Dallas went 7-of-16 (43.8%) on their perimeter attempts while Miami was limited to 1-of-11 (9.1%) on their looks.
Using their blistering hot perimeter shooting in the second period, the Mavericks’ 33 points while the Heat were contained to 15. Dallas managed to build a 63-54 lead at the half despite by double-figures in the early stages of the contest.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was the leading scorer for the Mavericks in the second period with 9 points, but he raised his game further after the half. He contributed over half of Dallas’s points during the third quarter with 18 during this stretch.
With Hardaway Jr. elevating his game to such a high level in the third quarter, the Mavericks managed to outscore the Heat by double-figures in consecutive quarters. Dallas gained a 98-77 lead entering the final period as a result.
“Hardaway’s had a terrific year,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s been the ultimate team guy.
“He’s had a terrific year and I know that playing in Miami is something that’s important to him. I know it’s special when you go back home”
The game was essentially too far out of reach for the Heat to mount a legitimate comeback effort in the final period. This served as an opportunity for Hardaway Jr. to convert on a couple more three-pointers – helping him to tie the Mavericks’ single-game record with 10 on the night.
“When you have been hot like that, had it going, you’re not really focused on any records or anything like that,” Hardaway said. “The game was just coming to me.”
Josh Green provided momentum-changing contributions off-the-bench in 24 minutes. He may have provided just 4 points but also added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals all-the-while making key hustle plays that didn’t show up in the box score.