PORTLAND, Ore. — Tyler Herro led the Miami Heat with an impressive performance, scoring 32 points, which included seven successful attempts from beyond the arc, as the team defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-98 on Saturday evening.
Nikola Jovic contributed significantly to the win with 21 points and eight rebounds coming off the bench, helping the Heat secure their third consecutive victory following a stretch of three consecutive losses.
The Heat established a strong lead, going into halftime ahead by 20 points. However, in the third quarter, the Blazers made a spirited attempt to close the gap, narrowing the score to 68-64 thanks to Anfernee Simons, who notched 17 points during that quarter and finished the game as Portland’s leading scorer with 28 points.
As the final quarter began, Miami maintained a 94-83 lead and kept their advantage intact until the end of the game.
Off the court, the Heat opted not to comment on the ongoing situation involving forward Jimmy Butler, who is currently serving a seven-game suspension due to conduct deemed detrimental to the team. This suspension came after Butler expressed concerns about his happiness playing with Miami on January 3.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers returned home after a challenging five-game road trip but were missing some key players, including Jerami Grant (facial contusion), Deandre Ayton (calf issue), and Robert Williams III (illness).
Takeaways:
Heat: Josh Richardson, who has been sidelined since November due to a heel injury, was announced as ruled out for this game after initially being listed as questionable.
Trail Blazers: Matisse Thybulle continues his rehabilitation from a right ankle injury and will be reassessed in two weeks.
Key Moment:
Jovic, along with Terry Rozier, delivered back-to-back three-pointers, extending Miami’s lead to 52-39, which contributed to their dominance in the first half, as they ended the period up 66-48. The Heat had a total of 13 three-pointers in the first half alone.
Key Stat:
Tyler Herro has successfully made at least one three-pointer in every game he has played this season, showcasing his consistency.
Up Next:
The Miami Heat are slated to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The matchup remains on schedule despite the severe fires affecting Southern California. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers will take on the Brooklyn Nets at home on Tuesday.
