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 However, when starting center Hassan Whiteside got hurt, Heat coach
Erik Spoelstra turned to the well-rested, 33-year-old reserve.
On Sunday night, Stoudemire came through again, scoring 13 points
and grabbing 12 rebounds to help the Heat defeat the Atlanta Hawks
105-87 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat are 4-1 with Stoudemire as a starter, including their
current four-game win streak.
"He had moments like this the past couple of years," said Spoelstra,
referring to Stoudemire's time with the New York Knicks and Dallas
Mavericks. "We fully believe Amar'e can be who he was in his 20s in
short bursts if we are all smart about it and control his minutes."
Stoudemire played 21 minutes Sunday, making five of eight shots from
the floor and three of four from the foul line. He added three
steals and one block, and five of his rebounds came on the offensive
end.
"He's fresh," Spoelstra said of Stoudemire, who has played between
18 and 26 minutes since Whiteside got hurt.
Heat forward Chris Bosh, who scored a game-high 18 points, said
Stoudemire is doing more than just scoring and rebounding.
"He's playing great defense," Bosh said. "He's physical. ... We're
trying to get him in positions where he can be effective."
Spoelstra wouldn't say what would happen to Stoudemire once
Whiteside returns, but -- for now at least -- the Heat are thriving
with their first four-game winning streak since April 2014. The Heat
also scored 100-plus points for the third game in a row.
In addition, Miami (27-21) moved to fourth place in the Eastern
Conference, vaulting past the Hawks (27-22) and Boston Celtics
(27-22).
Miami got 17 points each from guard Dwyane Wade and forward Luol
Deng. Wade added a game-high eight assists. Rookie forward Justise
Winslow came off the Heat bench to contribute 10 points and nine
rebounds.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is 1-5 in its past six games.
"You have times like this during a season," said Hawks forward Paul
Millsap, who had 17 points, tying center Al Horford for team scoring
honors. "I feel like we are struggling because we are trying to do
the right things, trying to make the right plays and trying to be
perfect.
"That's putting a lot of pressure on us. But if we keep making the
right plays, it will pay off."
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Perhaps that pressure got to Hawks guard Kyle Korver, who was held
scoreless, missing all six of his shots. Korver is normally one of
the best shooters in the NBA, leading the league in 3-point
percentage three times, although he has slumped this season.
Korver wasn't the only Hawks player to misfire on Sunday. The team
shot 38.6 percent from the floor and 22.7 percent on 3-pointers.
That opened the door for the Heat, who led 27-17 after the first
quarter and 47-34 at halftime. After the teams played to a draw in
the third quarter, Miami went into the fourth with a 75-62 lead.
That was pretty much it for Atlanta, which never got closer than 11
points in the fourth.
"We were in a big hole all night," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer
said. "Offensively, we were not where we needed to be.
"There were a couple of times when I felt we made a run, but it was
still quite a bit of distance."
Miami shot 48.1 percent from the floor and hit five of 20 3-point
attempts.
NOTES: Miami finished 9-8 in January. Atlanta was 6-9. ... Hawks
All-Star F Paul Millsap, who sprained his left ankle Thursday
against the Indiana Pacers, was able to make the start. ... Heat C
Hassan Whiteside (strained oblique) missed his fifth consecutive
game. ... Heat SG Tyler Johnson (shoulder) missed his second
straight game. ... Heat SG Dwyane Wade (.461 shooting percentage
entering Sunday) is on pace for the worst shooting percentage of his
career. His 3-point shooting (.226) is the worst it has been in a
decade. Wade, 34, is averaging 18.8 points, the lowest mark since
his rookie year. He made five of 12 shots Sunday. ... Hawks SG Tim
Hardaway Jr. played his high school ball locally at Miami Palmetto.
His father is former Heat star PG Tim Hardaway. Tim Jr. had 10
points in 20 minutes off the bench against Miami.
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