ATLANTA -- Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry, who exited Game 3 with a left hamstring strain, did not play in Game 4 of the first round series against the Hawks Sunday night.
"You have to be smart about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The training staff determined that he wasn't going to play tonight and we have everybody else available and that's what we're focused on right now."
It worked. Jimmy Butler scored 13 of his 36 points in a dominant second quarter as the Heat defeated Atlanta 110-86 to take a 3-1 series lead. Miami can wrap up the series in Game 5 on Tuesday.
Spoelstra, who did not name a starter in Lowry's place during his pregame availability, gave the nod to third-year guard Gabe Vincent, and that, too, worked. Vincent played 27 minutes in the win, finishing with 11 points, three rebounds and four assists. Meanwhile, Lowry is considered day-to-day heading into Game 5.
On Atlanta's injury front, center Clint Capela started after missing the first three games of the series with a right knee hyperextension. Capela had five rebounds and only two points in his first eight minutes of action. He finished with seven rebounds in the loss.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
