Nikola Jovic's Career-High 29 Points Lead Heat to Win Over Trail Blazers
Nikola Jovic scored a career-high 29 points off the bench and added nine rebounds and seven assists as the Miami Heat narrowly defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 136-131 on Saturday night.
Key Performances for Miami
- Norman Powell contributed 22 points.
- Pelle Larsson scored 16 points.
- Andrew Wiggins added 15 points, including a crucial 3-pointer late in the game.
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, plus seven assists.
- Kel’el Ware grabbed 12 rebounds.
Jovic's previous best was 24 points.
Portland Trail Blazers Highlights
- Deni Avdija, now averaging 25.3 points this season, led Portland with 33 points.
- Shaedon Sharpe contributed 21 points.
- Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant each scored 18 points.
Portland was starting a five-game road trip.
Game Summary
The fourth quarter saw intense back-and-forth action, with neither team leading by more than four points until the final moments.
[translate:Holiday connected on a 3-pointer with 3:26 left to tie the game at 123-all, setting the stage for the finish.]
[translate:Wiggins' 3-pointer with 1:32 left gave Miami a 132-127 lead and the Heat held on from there.]
Miami improved to 4-0 at home this season and 6-2 when scoring at least 115 points, while they are 0-2 when scoring less than that.
Additional Context
Despite setting a franchise record with 53 first-quarter points on Friday, the Heat started cold in this game, missing 14 of their first 15 shots and falling behind 15-3 early. However, they quickly recovered to secure the victory.
Author's summary: Nikola Jovic’s breakout 29-point game helped the Miami Heat overcome a slow start and edge the Trail Blazers in a tight and competitive matchup.