The Milwaukee Bucks continued their recent surge Tuesday night, pulling away late for a 128-117 victory over the Miami Heat in a back-and-forth contest that wasn’t decided until the final minutes.
Milwaukee leaned on a balanced offensive attack, led by Kevin Porter Jr., who matched his season high with 32 points. Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins each added 21 points, while Kyle Kuzma chipped in 19 and Ousmane Dieng contributed 11. The win marked the Bucks’ fourth in their last five games as they continue to stay afloat without their superstar.
Miami, meanwhile, saw its three-game winning streak come to an end despite a strong showing from several contributors. Norman Powell paced the Heat with 26 points, while Bam Adebayo recorded 18 points and nine rebounds. Andrew Wiggins added 16 points, and both Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware finished with 14 points apiece. Rookie Pelle Larsson scored 10, and Davion Mitchell, returning from illness, provided eight points and eight assists.
The game unfolded as a tight, momentum-swinging battle. Milwaukee held a slim 63-58 edge at halftime, but Miami surged in the third quarter to take a 93-89 lead into the final period. Early in the fourth, Ware’s three-pointer pushed the Heat’s advantage to nine—its largest of the night—and put the Bucks on their heels.
Milwaukee responded quickly. A three-pointer from Portis cut the deficit to 102-100, and moments later Dieng knocked down a shot from beyond the arc to give the Bucks a 103-102 lead. From there, the teams traded blows in a tense finish.
The turning point came when Porter drilled a corner three while drawing a foul, converting the four-point play to give Milwaukee a 118-116 advantage. With just over a minute remaining, Rollins delivered back-to-back baskets to seal the win and quiet Miami’s comeback hopes.
The Bucks set the tone early, edging Miami 30-29 after the first quarter behind Kuzma’s 13-point opening burst. Despite committing 16 turnovers, Milwaukee capitalized when it mattered most. Miami, on the other hand, scored 16 points off 11 Bucks turnovers but couldn’t maintain its late lead.
Milwaukee continues to navigate life without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed his 12th straight game with a strained right calf. The Bucks have been inconsistent without him this season, entering the night with a 10-16 record in his absence compared to 15-15 when he plays.
The Heat were also shorthanded, as Nikola Jovic missed his second consecutive game with a back issue and returned to Miami for further treatment.
Looking ahead, Miami will travel to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, while Milwaukee returns home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
