Herro scores 24 points in return to help the Heat beat the Hawks 128-97

ATLANTA (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 24 points in his return from a rib injury and the Miami Heat never trailed in a 128-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

Bam Adebayo had 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Miami, and Norman Powell added 15 points in his first game since participating in his first All-Star game. Kel'el Ware had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Jalen Johnson had 16 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists for Atlanta for his 11th triple-double of the season. It is the most in franchise history for a single season and leads the Eastern Conference.

Oneka Okongwu led Atlanta with 22 points. CJ McCollum had 20 points off the bench. He hit four 3-pointers.

Herro played his 12th game of the season. He missed the last 15 because of a rib injury and returned with a flak jacket.

He came off the bench and did not seem restricted at all, scoring 16 points in the first half. Herro also has missed time with ankle and toe injuries.

The Heat have won six of seven on the road.

Heat: Host Memphis on Saturday.

Hawks: Host Brooklyn on Sunday.

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Atlanta Hawks forward Corey Kispert (24) shoots against Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) shoots against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, left, and guard Davion Mitchell, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) shoots against Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) grabs a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory and 12th win in 13 games.

Jared Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel finished with 33 points on seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second most in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record with 206 set in the 2022-23 season.

LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each had 18 points and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.

Miller's and-one layup off a no-look feed from Ball cut Cleveland's lead to four with a minute remaining, but Mitchell made a short jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.

The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked like they were preparing to break the game open, but Knueppel began to heat up, finishing with four 3s and 16 points in the first half to cut Cleveland's lead in to six. Charlotte took the lead late in the third quarter behind three more Knueppel 3s.

But Mitchell began to take over with his physical play. He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

Charlotte played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate and Grant Williams, who sat out with knee injury management forcing them to play younger, less experienced players in the frontcourt.

The Cavaliers outscored the Hornets 50-28 in the paint.

The Hornets have now lost three of their last four games after winning nine straight games just before the All-Star break.

Cavaliers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Hornets: At Washington on Sunday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller, center, drives to the basket against against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis (14) and center Thomas Bryant, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball shoots against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, left, looks to pass the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppe, right,l during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, right, drives against Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, front right, drives between Cleveland Cavaliers guards James Harden, left, and Sam Merrill, back right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)