The Miami Heat snapped a three-game losing streak in convincing fashion on Friday, December 26, 2025, beating the Atlanta Hawks 126-111 at State Farm Arena in a result the Miami Heat Vs Atlanta Hawks Match Player Stats will show was built on superior depth, second-half execution and a ruthless second-quarter run that proved the defining passage of the contest.
Norman Powell led Miami with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Pelle Larsson — returning from a sprained left ankle after a five-game absence — delivered a career-high 21 points in one of the more complete individual performances the Heat had produced in a difficult December stretch.
Without Bam Adebayo, who missed the game with a back injury, and with Tyler Herro sidelined for the eighth consecutive game with a toe problem, Miami relied on collective output to handle a Hawks side that had lost four straight entering the contest.
The result moved the Heat back over .500 at 16-15 on the season.
Miami Heat Vs Atlanta Hawks Match Player Stats: Larsson’s Return Changes Heat’s Dynamic
The early exchanges were even, with the scoreline level at 24-24 midway through the first quarter.
Larsson’s energy upon his return was immediately visible, and he shot 9-of-13 from the field overall, adding six rebounds, five assists and a steal to his career-high scoring tally.
The Heat found a different gear in the second quarter.
Miami went on a 16-4 scoring run over a five-minute stretch that ended the half — carrying a 63-51 lead into the locker room and effectively breaking open what had appeared a competitive game.
Kel’el Ware stepped into the void left by Adebayo’s absence with authority.
The young centre produced his 13th double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting in 33 minutes — a performance that further strengthened his claim as one of the more impactful young bigs in the Eastern Conference.
Andrew Wiggins contributed 18 points for the Heat, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic provided efficient bench contributions — Jaquez finishing with 16 points, five rebounds and three steals, and Jovic returning from an elbow injury to post 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Hawks Struggle Without Consistent Support Around Young
For Atlanta, Trae Young remained their most potent offensive weapon.
He scored a game-high 30 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, and finished with nine free throw makes from nine attempts — but the Hawks could not generate the kind of consistent secondary scoring needed to compete with a Heat team outworking them on both glass and in transition.
Jalen Johnson came closest to providing the necessary support, with 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds — a near triple-double that at least showed the two-way capability Atlanta need from him heading into the second half of the season.
Dyson Daniels returned from one game out with right hip inflammation to contribute eight points and six rebounds, though his impact was limited compared to his recent form.
Miami outrebounded Atlanta 52-42 on the night and forced 21 turnovers while committing just 12, generating 19 more field goal attempts as a result.
The Heat combined to shoot 47.1 percent from the field.
Both teams shot 47.1 percent overall, but the rebounding and turnover differential proved decisive in a game that finished far more comfortably for Miami than the scoreline suggests.
Atlanta fell to 5-10 at home and, remarkably, remained the only team in the NBA posting a winning road record alongside a losing home record — sitting 10-7 away from State Farm Arena at the time of the defeat.
Box Score Summary
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | 27 | 36 | — | — | 126 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 24 | 27 | — | — | 111 |
Miami Heat Player Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | FG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | 25 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 9-16 |
| Pelle Larsson | 21 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 9-13 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| Kel’el Ware | 16 | 13 | — | — | 7-10 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 16 | 5 | — | 3 | — |
| Nikola Jovic | 10 | 7 | 4 | — | — |
Atlanta Hawks Player Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trae Young | 30 | — | 7 | 8-16 | 5-8 |
| Jalen Johnson | 24 | 9 | 10 | — | — |
| Dyson Daniels | 8 | 6 | — | — | — |
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Miami Heat | Atlanta Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 126 | 111 |
| Field Goal % | 47.1% | 47.1% |
| 3-Point FG Made | 11 | 12 |
| 3-Point Attempts | 36 | 36 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 21 |
| Total Rebounds | 52 | 42 |
