Norman Powell's 25 points lead Heat to 126-111 win over struggling Hawks

ATLANTA (AP) — Norman Powell had 25 points, Pelle Larsson scored a career-high 21 and the struggling Miami Heat handed the Atlanta Hawks their fifth straight loss, 126-111 on Friday night.

Kel'el Ware had 16 points and 13 rebounds in place of Bam Adebayo, who missed the game with a back injury. Andrew Wiggins had 18 points and Jamie Jaquez Jr. had 16 points off the bench.

The Heat had lost eight of nine games entering Friday, but got back over .500 at 16-15. Tyler Herro missed his eighth straight game with a toe injury. Larsson started after missing five games with a sprained left ankle.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and he also had seven assists. Jalen Johnson added 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Wiggins turned in one of the plays of the game in the fourth quarter. He saved the ball along the sideline after stealing an inbounds pass, got a return pass and hit a running reverse layup to stretch Miami's lead to 102-87 with 9:05 to play. A 9-0 run capped by an over-the-head layup by Powell later in the quarter pushed the lead to 17.

The Heat outrebounded the Hawks 52-42 and forced 21 turnovers while committing 12. That resulted in 19 more field goal attempts for Miami.

The Hawks fell to 5-10 at home and are the only team in the NBA with a winning record on the road (10-7) and a losing record at home.

Dyson Daniels returned for Atlanta after missing one game with right hip inflammation. He had eight points and six rebounds.

Heat: Host Indiana on Saturday night.

Hawks: Host New York on Saturday night in their eighth back-to-back of the season, which is the most in the NBA.

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Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) shoots past Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) shoots against Atlanta Hawks guard Vit Krejci (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives against the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — California this week dropped a lawsuit officials filed against the Trump administration over the federal government's withdrawing of $4 billion for the state's long-delayed high-speed rail project.

The U.S. Transportation Department slashed funds for the bullet train aimed at connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles in July. The Trump administration has said the California High-Speed Rail Authority had “ no viable plan ” to complete a large segment of the project in the farm-rich Central Valley.

The authority quickly filed a lawsuit, with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom calling the federal government's decision “a political stunt to punish California.”

The authority said this week that it would focus on other funding sources to complete the project, which is estimated to cost more than $100 billion.

“This action reflects the State’s assessment that the federal government is not a reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner in advancing high-speed rail in California,” an authority spokesperson said in a statement.

The Transportation Department did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have both previously criticized the project as a “train to nowhere.”

“The Railroad we were promised still does not exist, and never will,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in July. “This project was Severely Overpriced, Overregulated, and NEVER DELIVERED.”

The authority's decision to drop the lawsuit comes as the group seeks private investors to support the bullet train. The project recently secured $1 billion in annual funding from the state's cap-and-trade program through 2045.

The program sets a declining limit on total planet-warming emissions in the state from major polluters. Companies must reduce their emissions, buy allowances from the state or other businesses, or fund projects aimed at offsetting their emissions. Money the state receives from the sales funds climate-change mitigation, affordable housing and transportation projects, as well as utility bill credits for Californians.

The rail authority said its shift in focus away from federal funding offers “a new opportunity.”

“Moving forward without the Trump administration’s involvement allows the Authority to pursue proven global best practices used successfully by modern high-speed rail systems around the world,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

FILE - Carpenters with the California High-Speed Rail Authority work on a parapet and derailment wall at the Hanford Viaduct construction site on April 15, 2025, in Kings County, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

FILE - The Cedar Viaduct, designed to take high-speed trains over Cedar and North avenues and State Route 99, is shown in an aerial view, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Fresno, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)