Heat 121, Hawks 119 (OT)
MIAMI -- The Atlanta Hawks unleashed a barrage of 3-pointers Monday night in an attempt to score their first win against the Miami Heat in over two seasons.
The strategy was unsuccessful.
The Heat, led by forward LeBron James' 38 points, eight rebounds and six assists, rallied to beat the Hawks 121-119 in overtime at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The victory was the Heat's ninth in a row against the Hawks. Miami (21-6) capped a perfect five-game homestand.
Forward Michael Beasley hit two free throws with 9.2 seconds left in overtime to put the Heat in front 120-119. With one foul to give before putting Atlanta in the bonus, the Heat committed a foul with 2.3 seconds left, forcing the Hawks to inbound the ball again.
The Hawks (15-13) got the ball to guard Kyle Korver near the basket, but Korver's shot was short off the side of the rim. Miami forward Chris Andersen collected the rebound with 0.3 seconds left and was fouled. Andersen hit one free throw, sealing the outcome.
Atlanta made 17 of 34 3-pointers in the game -- a season high for a Miami opponent -- and nearly won the game in regulation after Korver hit a trey with 1:33 left, putting the Hawks ahead 107-100.
James quickly answered with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to four. With 23 seconds remaining, James hit another 3-pointer to pull Miami within one.
After two free throws by guard Lou Williams gave the Hawks a 109-106 edge with 22.3 seconds left, James delivered a thunderous dunk at the other end over forward Paul Millsap to slice the margin to one with 14.4 seconds to go. James argued for a foul but did not get the call.
After the Hawks extended their edge to 111-108 with two more free throws, Miami guard Ray Allen was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with 9.2 remaining. Allen hit all three free throws.
Allen, who started for Dwyane Wade (knee), finished with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Andersen and Beasley also made key contributions down the stretch, and they finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Guard Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 26 points and eight rebounds. Millsap added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and center Al Horford contributed 21 points and 11 boards.
NOTES: The Heat gave G Dwyane Wade the night off Monday due to mild knee soreness. It was the seventh game Wade, who is averaging 19.9 points and 4.9 assists in 33.6 minutes per game, has missed this season and second against Atlanta. Wade, who got engaged to actress Gabrielle Union on Saturday, was named the Eastern Conference's Player of the Week Monday after averaging 26.3 points per game on 60 percent shooting during the Heat's three victories last week. ... Hawks G Kyle Korver extended his NBA-record streak of games with at least one 3-pointer made to 97 in the first quarter of Monday's game. ... The Heat open a four-game road trip Christmas Day in Los Angeles against the Lakers. ... The Hawks play the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Thursday.
