NBA: Bam Adebayo's strong closing surge guides Heat past Suns

Bam Adebayo scored 13 consecutive points late in the fourth quarter, powering the Miami Heat to a 127-121 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night at the Kaseya Center.

With the score tied at 118-118 and just 48.3 seconds remaining, Miami’s Norman Powell hit a corner three-pointer, giving the Heat a lead they would not relinquish.

Adebayo finished with a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds, helping Miami snap a three-game losing streak. Powell, playing in his first game back after missing a contest due to a back injury, contributed 27 points. Tyler Herro added 23 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. came off the bench to record 16 points and a team-high eight assists.

For the Suns, who saw their three-game winning streak end, Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks each scored 25 points. Devin Booker added 24 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high nine assists, while Mark Williams posted 18 points and a team-high 14 rebounds.

Booker, a four-time All-Star, limped off the court with 55 seconds left in the third quarter due to an apparent left foot injury but returned with 9:11 remaining in the fourth. Meanwhile, Miami point guard Davion Mitchell, the team’s leading assist provider, suffered a shoulder contusion early in the third quarter and did not return, finishing with nine points and six assists.

Miami jumped out to an early lead, holding a 36-28 advantage after the first quarter. The Heat dominated the paint, 22-10, and shot 64% from the field compared to Phoenix’s 37%. By halftime, Miami had extended the lead to 71-54, with Powell scoring 10 points in the second quarter while the Heat shot 50% from the floor. The Suns managed just 1-of-10 from three-point range in the period.

Early in the third quarter, Miami pushed the lead to 74-54, but Phoenix mounted a comeback, tying the game at 92-92 on Oso Ighodaro’s put-back and free throw with 0.1 seconds left in the quarter. The Suns then took their first lead of the game, 101-99, on Collin Gillespie’s three-pointer with 9:13 remaining in the fourth.

Tempers flared in the final minutes when Booker and Jaquez were assessed technical fouls for shoving. Powell’s clutch three-pointer proved decisive, as Allen stepped out of bounds for a turnover and later missed a three-point attempt. Brooks was called for an offensive foul, sealing Miami’s win.

The Heat improve their record while Phoenix drops theirs, ending a brief winning streak for the Suns.

—Field Level Media/Reuters