----- Bam Adebayo finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds and Caleb Martin scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Miami Heat defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-92 Wednesday night at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida.
Caleb Martin scored 26 points and Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Miami Heat topped the Portland Trail Blazers 104-92 Wednesday night at FTX Arena in Miami.
Miami trailed 80-78 entering the fourth quarter but put the clamps on Portland with their defense holding them to just 12 points in the final 12 minutes of action.
Anfernee Simons scored a game-high 27 points to lead Portland (18-26) and CJ McCollum added 24 points in his second game back from a collapsed lung.
Jusuf Nurkic continued his strong play in January finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Nassir Little went scoreless in just 12 minutes of action. He exited the game with a bruised knee.
Max Strus scored 15 points for Miami, including a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining that put the Heat up 10. Dewayne Dedmon scored 12 for the Heat, who started the game without Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro — then lost Jimmy Butler to a first-half ejection.
Butler was ejected with 2:28 left in the first half, arguing on a play where he scored and got fouled by Nurkic.
The Heat bench dominated the game with a 58-12 advantage.
The Blazers connected on just 3-of-20 from three-point range in the second half including 0-for-9 in the fourth quarter.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers continue their six-game road trip Friday in Boston against the Celtics. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:30 PM.
Chad's Take- Short-handed Blazers delivered an entertaining game against the Heat albeit a loss.