Heat Vs. Hawks: Miami Holds Off Atlanta In Triple-OT, 116-109

After battling back to head to double overtime and then triple overtime against the Miami Heat, the Atlanta Hawks couldn't sink a single shot in the third overtime, falling to the Heat 116-109. Chris Bosh hit a big three point shot to originally send the game into overtime, carrying a Miami team that was without Dwayne Wade and LeBron James.

Bosh wound up leading the Heat in scoring for the night, picking up 33 points and 14 rebounds. Point guard Mario Chalmers had a big night as well, picking up 29 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, including hitting his free throws to tie the game in the second overtime period, sending it to a third.

The Hawks looked like they were going to come away with the win over a Heat team missing it's two best players, but starters Josh Smith and Marvin Williams didn't really do a whole lot. Williams ended the game with just seven points and seven rebounds, while Smith picked up some late points to get his night total up to 17 points with 13 rebounds.

The real spark of energy for the Hawks came from their bench and 27-year old rookie Ivan Johnson, who came in to provide some defense and ignite a Hawks run in the third quarter that wound up being all for nought. Johnson ended the night picking up 13 points and shooting 5 of 7 from the floor. The Hawks also picked up 14 points from Willie Green and Tracy McGrady off the bench. The Hawks had the game, but Bosh's game tying three-pointer sent the game into overtime and the Hawks just couldn't hang on.

For more on these two teams, visit Heat blog Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Atlanta Hawks, visit SB Nation's Hawks blog Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.

The Atlanta Hawks were down double digits for much of the third quarter to the Miami Heat, playing without LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, until they stormed back behind the defense and energy of 27-year-old rookie Ivan Johnson — veteran of professional leagues in China, South Korea, Puerto Rico and the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League — playing in his first meaningful NBA minutes.

It was only a matter of time, it seemed, before something sparked the Hawks, who were completely listless for the first half hour of this game. Johnson has provided that, and the Hawks lead the Heat 70-68 after three quarters. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith have 13 points apiece and Willie Green has 14, all of which came in the second quarter.

Chris Bosh, in a leading role, has 20 points and eight rebounds, playing with a group of teammates that must remind him of his days in Toronto. The Heat are playing with energy, but as soon as the Hawks matched that energy, they went on a run and eventually took the lead.

For more on these two teams, visit Heat blog Peninsula Is Mightier and Hawks blog Peachtree Hoops.

With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the lineup and full healthy, the Miami Heat lost their only game of the season so far to the Atlanta Hawks. With the same two on the bench nursing injuries Thursday night on the road, the Heat are leading a healthy Hawks squad, except Kirk Hinrich, at halftime, 54-49, on the back of Chris Bosh and his 13 points and six rebounds.

Willie Green exploded for 14 points in the second quarter and leads everyone in scoring without missing a shot. Without his outside shooting and energy, the Hawks would be down big at home to the shell of a Heat lineup that is, admittedly playing a high-energy, unselfish style of basketball.

The real highlight of the game, however, has been Charles Barkley's work in the booth alongside Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller. He's been hilarious, he's made keen observations and hasn't pulled any punches; essentially, he's been Charles Barkley. Also, he's cut into Reggie Miller's airtime, which is good for everyone involved.

For more on these two teams, visit Heat blog Peninsula Is Mightier and Hawks blog Peachtree Hoops.

Though the Miami Heat are playing without their big stars, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, they are leading the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta by three points after the first quarter and have been leading by as much as five in the early parts of the game.

Chris Bosh did his part as one third of the "Big Three" tied for the team's scoring lead with six points along with Udonis Haslem, who came off the bench for his points. Marvin Williams and Josh Smith each have five points to lead the Hawks, who look sluggish on defense and apathetic on offense. They're not moving the ball with any urgency and are settling for long jump shots instead of attack the rim.

The Heat, meanwhile, have played with intensity, mainly because this is many of the players' big chance to prove they can contribute in a meaningful way without James or Wade drawing defenders' attention. For Bosh, especially, it's a chance to gain back some of the respect he's lost so, so much of the past year.

For updates on the game and these teams, visit Heat blog Peninsula Is Mightier and Hawks blog Peachtree Hoops.

Thursday night's opening NBA matchup on TNT just got a bit less marquee -- the Miami Heat announced that both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will sit out the game against the Atlanta Hawks. Shane Battier and James Jones will start in their place.

Per the Heat, James and Wade are considered "day-to-day." Wade sat out Wednesday night's win at home against the Indiana Pacers with a left foot contusion.

Thursday night's game in Atlanta is the back-end of Miami's second set of back-to-back games in five days, and it is also the beginning of a five-game road trip that takes the Heat to New Jersey, Golden State, Los Angeles and Denver in a nine-day span.

The Hawks beat the Heat Monday night, 100-92, Miami's only loss of the young 2011-12 season. James and Wade combined for 40 points in that contest, but Atlanta's fourth quarter proved to be too much for the duo.