As we navigate this holiday season, some might say it is a season of giving, and others might say it is a season of giving thanks. Monday night's meeting between the Miami Heat and the LA Clippers was certainly a night for Miami to give thanks, and LA was in a giving mood this past summer.
Because once again, Miami's "under-the-radar" trade to acquire Norman Powell this summer looks like the heist of the offseason as the Heat rolled over Powell's former team 140-123.
Miami makes light work of Los Angeles
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Calling the Powell trade a heist might not be strong enough, as Miami at this point has pulled off a full-blown robbery of the Clippers. Monday night was a reminder to Los Angeles just how foolish they were to send Powell on his way, as Powell had 30 points in just 31 minutes off 12-18 shooting, including 6-10 from three.
Powell, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell were all north of +30 on the night in terms of plus/minus.
If you had told someone back in September that Miami would score 140 points on a night when Tyler Herro had "just" 22 points and Kel'el Ware [had zero points](https://allucanheat.com/kel-el-ware-solving-his-biggest-problem-would-make-the-heat-a-title-threat), you might get asked if you need to take a trip to the hospital.
But fast forward into December, and at this point, no Miami fan is even blinking. Perhaps pinching yourself, but this Miami squad has proven 21 games into the season that this new look offense isn't just some fluke.
Adebayo was asked after the game if he ever thought Miami would be a team that would lead the league in scoring. Even he had to admit he never dreamed scoring 140 points regularly [was a possibility](https://x.com/HeatCulture13/status/1995700714656473497?s=20):
_"Uhh, no. You look at the past two years Spo just scrapped the book and said we want to play fast, with pace. We built a team that can sustain that. Almost our whole starting 5 had 20 points, that's really sharing the game."_
None of this is possible without Powell, who was the engine for this Heat squad while Herro recovered. Scray part is that Herro is still working his way back and is getting comfortable with this offense.
Monday's win moves Miami to 14-7 on the season and into 3rd place in the Eastern Conference behind Detroit and New York.
Perhaps the scarier part for the rest of the Eastern Conference is that Miami's schedule is about to get a lot softer between now and the All-Star break.
Could 150+ points be on the way?
Anything feels possible this year in Miami.