Heat Outpace Trail Blazers for 136-131 Victory as Adebayo Sits Again
The NBA's two fastest teams by pace delivered an intense showdown Saturday night at Kaseya Center, with the Miami Heat narrowly triumphing over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Both teams, leading the league in pace rankings, engaged in a back-and-forth contest marked by bursts of speed rather than steady tempo. Miami, ranked No. 1 in pace, faced Portland, a close competitor in that category.
Despite missing key players Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro due to injuries, the Heat battled hard down the stretch. Crucial late points from Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell, and Andrew Wiggins sealed a 136-131 win, improving Miami’s record to 6-4.
“Obviously our guys are getting pretty comfortable with it,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra about the team's fast-paced style. “I’m not putting the brakes on anybody who is trying to attack.”
Nikola Jovic led Miami with a career-high 29 points. Powell contributed 22 points, Pelle Larsson 16, Wiggins 15, and Jaquez finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
“It’s an offense where it can be anybody’s night,” Jaquez noted. “Tonight, it was Niko.”
Jovic praised the fast pace, saying, You can see the way it makes everybody look better.
Key Contributors
- Nikola Jovic: 29 points (career-high)
- Norman Powell: 22 points
- Pelle Larsson: 16 points
- Andrew Wiggins: 15 points
- Jaime Jaquez Jr.: 14 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists
The Heat’s adaptation to their rapid style is proving effective as they maintain momentum without their top stars.
Summary: Miami Heat leaned on depth and a fast-paced offense to edge the Portland Trail Blazers 136-131 despite missing key players Adebayo and Herro.