Phoenix Suns vs. Miami Heat: Postgame Grades and Analysis
In a matchup of teams scrapping for a low playoff seed, the Miami Heat fought off a physical visit from the Phoenix Suns and emerged with a 115-98 victory from Monday's drama-filled tilt.
The Heat enjoyed their highest scoring quarter of the season with 39 points in the second frame, and the Suns helped by turning the ball over eight times in those 12 minutes. With the Heat up by 14 at the half, no one could have foreseen the second half that resulted.
A raucous third quarter saw three players ejected from the game, one for a reckless foul and two for a hot-headed brawl between big men fit for the Octagon. Undrafted rookie Tyler Johnson led all scorers with 26 points off the bench for the Heat, outshining even Goran Dragic's 21 points against his old team.
| Goran Dragic | B |
| Dwyane Wade | B |
| Luol Deng | B- |
| Tyler Johnson | A+ |
| Hassan Whiteside | Incomplete |
| Rest of Team | C+ |
| Eric Bledsoe | B |
| Brandon Knight | B- |
| P.J. Tucker | B+ |
| Markieff Morris | Incomplete |
| Alex Len | Incomplete |
| Rest of Team | C |
Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade, Shooting Guard
Dwyane Wade began the first half quietly, but he roused the fans with his fourth steal and a slam dunk late in the second quarter, only his 11th dunk of the year, per Basketball-Reference.com. A surge late in the half left him with 11 points at the break, but he also had four of the team's eight turnovers to that point.
Wade seemed to gain confidence in his jump shot during the second half, though he kept facilitating his teammates as well. Wade ended with 16 points, which required him to attempt 19 shots, but he still produced a game-high nine assists.
Grade: B
Goran Dragic, Point Guard
Dragic hasn't exactly lit up South Beach since arriving by trade from the Suns, as the Heat have gone just 2-3. He picked up a pair of early fouls in the first quarter of this game.
But the second quarter was a different story, as he scored eight points in three minutes, part of a 14-2 Heat run stretching back to the first quarter. However, Dragic soon picked up his third foul and returned to the bench.
Perhaps because his former teammates from Phoenix know his tendencies on defense, Dragic had piled up five personal fouls with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter.
But becoming the fourth player sent out of the game did not deter Dragic, and he scored 10 points in the final five minutes to finish with 21 on the evening. He got to the line nine times, which was an encouraging sign, though he managed only one assist.
Grade: B
Luol Deng, Small Forward
Luol Deng turned in another quietly productive game with nine points by the break, though he faded in the second half and finished with a dozen. He logged 38 minutes, and the team figures to lean on him continuously with Chris Bosh (blood clot) out for the year.
Grade: B-
Hassan Whiteside, Center
Hassan Whiteside started off well with seven points in the first quarter, but he also took a jab in the face from Eric Bledsoe as the Suns guard tried to poke the ball away. He shook that off, and the 25-year-old emerging phenom led his team on both ends of the floor, protecting the rim and romping through the paint for offensive rebounds and numerous dunks.
But then the third quarter came. Whiteside and Ukrainian Suns center Alex Len had battled down low throughout the game, vying for rebounds and position. After Whiteside grabbed another offensive board and stuffed it over Len's attempted block, Whiteside landed and his forearm hit Len on the shoulder.
Len responded by shoving him, and Whiteside countered with a takedown the likes of which the Miami Dolphins could probably use, wrapping Len at the waist and driving him to the hardwood.
The two men grappled on the floor for five or 10 seconds before the tussle came to an end, and after the refs took a look, both Whiteside and Len got tossed from the game for their antics despite no punches being thrown. Whiteside ended up with 17 points, 10 rebounds (six offensive), two blocks and two steals.
Grade: Incomplete
Tyler Johnson, Shooting Guard
Johnson made a big impact off the bench, dropping 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in just 12 minutes. But he turned an ankle late in the third quarter and headed for treatment.
It seemed as if his breakout night was finished, but the undrafted rookie out of Fresno State returned to the court and added a second act to his memorable performance.
Johnson drained all three of his three-point attempts and only missed three shots all night, piling up 26 points on just 13 shots. As if that wasn't enough, he also filched three steals!
Grade: A+
Rest of Team
Michael Beasley had a strong night, with 12 points and six rebounds. He even drew a textbook charge in the fourth quarter as the Suns were making a run, and it was a sterling effort from "Super Cool Beas."
With Dragic trudging through foul trouble throughout the game, Mario Chalmers found himself beside D-Wade running the show once again. He netted seven points, four dimes and two steals.
Chris Andersen has been dealing with an illness, so perhaps that accounts for his underwhelming performance despite Whiteside's early exit—one point, four boards, one steal.
Udonis Haslem started the game, but he took a backseat to Whiteside in the frontcourt. Chris Andersen and Michael Beasley also saw heavy minutes off the bench, and Haslem is working solely off veteran savvy at this stage.
Henry Walker picked up five fouls and four rebounds in his 12 minutes. Shabazz Napier got elbowed in the face during the first quarter. That was it for him after a minute of play.
Grade: C+
Phoenix Suns
Brandon Knight, Point Guard
Brandon Knight struggled to spark the offense. He missed nine of his 12 shots, and he contributed to a dreadful 7-of-31 shooting performance from downtown for the team.
Knight dished seven assists, but he also turned it over five times. He ended with 13 points, and the Suns either needed more points or more efficiency from their new star guard.
Grade: B-
Eric Bledsoe, Shooting Guard
Eric Bledsoe failed to record a field goal in the first half, and he hurt his own cause by picking up a third foul early in the second quarter. He saved up his production for the second half. Bledsoe proceeded to the foul line a game-high 11 times, and he tallied 20 points in all, plus three assists.
But the game turned in the second quarter, and Bledsoe's foul trouble kept him off the floor during a key stretch when the Suns struggled considerably.
Grade: B
P.J. Tucker, Small Forward
Despite strong play since the All-Star break, P.J. Tucker had just two points by halftime. Then he woke up. He propelled Phoenix's comeback attempt and helped keep the Heat within reach down the stretch.
Tucker had a tremendous second half, during which he recorded 11 of his 14 rebounds and 18 of his 20 points. As with much of the Suns' effort, it came too little too late, not to mention when they were already shorthanded.
Grade: B+
Markieff Morris, Power Forward
Markieff Morris finished the first quarter as the game's high scorer with eight points, and he had a team-high 13 points. It's a good thing he got some work in when he could.
Early in the third quarter, Markieff Morris whacked Dragic in midair on a transition layup attempt, and the Slovenian took a worrisome tumble past the basket stanchion.
Referees reviewed the replay, which showed Morris somewhat out of control and making contact with Dragic's head, as well. They adjudged Morris to have committed a flagrant-2 foul, resulting in his automatic ejection.
Grade: Incomplete
Alex Len, Center
Len had a pretty good game just during the first quarter, with six points, five boards and two steals. And during the second quarter, the sophomore center came up with a powerful slam over Whiteside. Perhaps that sowed the seeds of their future fight.
Len instigated the fight with his needless shove after the basket, though Whiteside's tackle was the more egregious action. Either way, both were ejected, and both recorded double-doubles. Len finished with 10 points, 11 boards and two steals.
Grade: Incomplete
Rest of Team
Gerald Green could not find his range from the perimeter. He connected on just one of his seven shots for three points.
Marcus Morris should have tried to get himself thrown out of the game instead of his identical twin Markieff. He still scored 11 points, but he put up 12 shots to get there.
Grade: C
What's Next?
The Suns will visit the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Heat bring in the Los Angeles Lakers that same evening.
