MIAMI – Anfernee Simons led the Portland Trail Blazers with 24 points, helping the team secure a 116-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. Deandre Ayton contributed significantly as well, notching up 22 points along with 15 rebounds. Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija played crucial roles, adding 18 and 16 points respectively for the Blazers. Notably, this triumph came after a historic 60-point loss to the Heat earlier in the season on March 29.
Other contributors for Portland included Shaedon Sharpe, who scored 12 points, and both Scoot Henderson and Dalano Banton, who each added 11 points. On the Heat’s side, rookie Kel’el Ware had an impressive performance, registering 20 points and 16 rebounds. Duncan Robinson was also a standout, scoring 22 points. However, the Heat played without their star shooter, Tyler Herro, missing the game due to groin tightness. Jimmy Butler managed to contribute 13 points in the matchup.
Portland widened their lead in the third quarter through a strong 21-8 run, with Ayton scoring eight points during this key stretch, bringing the score to 86-63. The Heat, facing a 21-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, made a determined push with a 19-4 run. Jaime Jaquez’s free throws brought Miami within 112-105 with just under two minutes remaining, but Grant’s efficient free throw shooting helped Portland maintain a comfortable lead at 115-105 in the final seconds.
Key takeaways include the Blazers’ remarkable performance in ball control; they did not turn the ball over until Henderson’s misstep with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter. This marked the first time since January 16, 2019, that they went an entire half without committing a turnover. Meanwhile, the Heat initially started strong, hitting five of their first seven 3-point attempts before embarking on a dismal streak where they missed 19 shots from beyond the arc. Ware eventually ended the drought with a three-pointer late in the third period.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred just before halftime when Grant hit a crucial three-pointer, followed by Ayton’s layup, allowing the Blazers to take a decisive 61-55 lead that they would not relinquish. The statistical highlights for Portland included their impressive shooting from three-point range, converting six of twelve attempts in the third quarter alone, which helped them establish their largest lead at 92-65.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers are set to face off against the Orlando Magic, while the Miami Heat will take on the Milwaukee Bucks, both games scheduled for Thursday night.
