Miami, FL — Despite a dominant 22-point lead slipping away in the second half, the Milwaukee Bucks managed to edge the Miami Heat 106-103 in an NBA Cup matchup on Tuesday night, powered by Damian Lillard’s 37 points and 12 assists.
Lillard’s performance was pivotal, helping the Bucks secure their fifth consecutive win and bring their season record to 9-9, leveling their mark for the first time since being 1-1. The Bucks also moved to 3-0 in NBA Cup play, putting them a half-game ahead of Detroit in the East Group B standings.
Brook Lopez added 13 points, and Bobby Portis chipped in 11 as Milwaukee persevered despite the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was scratched shortly before tipoff due to swelling in his left knee.
For the Heat, Jimmy Butler led the way with 23 points, while Tyler Herro contributed 18, Terry Rozier scored 17, and Bam Adebayo added 16. Despite cutting the deficit to a tie at 96-96 with a Butler layup, Miami never managed to take the lead, even as they pulled within one point on several occasions.
The Heat, who struggled mightily from beyond the arc, were outscored 60-30 in 3-point shooting. With the loss, Miami dropped to 1-2 in the NBA Cup.
Key Takeaways Of The Game:
Bucks:
- Lillard’s 37-point, 12-assist performance marked his 30th career game with at least 35 points and 10 assists, tying him with Allen Iverson for the ninth-most such games in NBA history. Oscar Robertson holds the record with 121.
Heat:
- Miami has now faced double-digit deficits in two of their seven home games this season. This is a troubling trend compared to last season when they experienced such deficits six times over 41 home games.
Key Moment Of The Game:
- In the game’s final moments, AJ Green delivered back-to-back 3-pointers for Milwaukee, both coming immediately after Miami cut the lead to just one. His clutch shots pushed the Bucks’ lead to 101-97 and 104-100, sealing the win.
Key Stat Of The Game:
- Lillard’s 37 points were the second-most scored by a Bucks player against Miami in regular-season history. Mo Williams holds the record with 38 points, set on February 3, 2007.
Up Next:
- Bucks: Host the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
- Heat: Travel to Charlotte for a Wednesday night matchup.
