The Milwaukee Bucks showcased their late-game prowess with a dominant fourth quarter, overpowering the Miami Heat in a 128-117 victory at Fiserv Forum. Despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks found their rhythm when it mattered most.
Key Takeaways from the Game:
Heat's Struggles: Tyler Herro's Off Night
Returning to his hometown, Tyler Herro struggled to find his groove.
Coming off the bench, he managed 14 points on just 29.4% shooting, adding two rebounds, six assists, and a block in 26 minutes. Herro is still adjusting after missing significant time, and with 23 games remaining, the Heat need his offensive spark to escape the Play-In Tournament.
Bucks' Offensive Firepower: Kevin Porter Jr. Shines
Kevin Porter Jr. stepped up in a big way, matching his season-high with 32 points, including key three-pointers, while contributing seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block in 37 minutes. His efforts sparked a decisive 20-6 run in the fourth quarter, sealing the win for the Bucks.
Bobby Portis also delivered off the bench, scoring 21 points and tying his season-high with five three-pointers. His performance nearly outpaced the entire Heat reserve squad. Meanwhile, Ryan Rollins continued his breakout season with 21 points on 56.3% shooting, plus four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.
Heat's Late-Game Execution Falters
Despite excelling in areas like rebounding, free throws, and points off turnovers, the Heat's offense went cold in the final six minutes, failing to make a field goal. This allowed the Bucks to outscore them 39-24 in the fourth quarter, a gap the Heat couldn't bridge.
With Herro re-integrating into the lineup, the Heat's opportunities to build cohesion are limited. Defensive concerns linger, especially post-trade deadline, with few lockdown defenders outside of Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Davion Mitchell.
The Heat will look to bounce back as they head to the Northeast to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.