Bam Adebayo scored 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 as the Miami Heat took advantage of a depleted roster to defeat the Phoenix Suns 111-102 on Sunday night.
Miami completed a back-to-back after a lopsided win at Utah on Saturday and capitalized on a Phoenix team missing two key contributors following injuries sustained in Friday’s loss at Atlanta. The Heat controlled the game late, finishing a five-game road trip with a 3-2 record.
The Suns were without four-time All-Star Devin Booker, who rolled his right ankle in the third quarter against the Hawks and is expected to be re-evaluated in a week. Jalen Green was also unavailable after exiting just his second game back from a 33-game absence due to a hamstring strain.
Phoenix struggled offensively without Booker’s team-leading 25.4 points per game, shooting just 37 percent from the field and 7 of 35 from 3-point range. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 26 points, while Grayson Allen added 18 despite shooting 4 of 18 overall and 1 of 11 from beyond the arc.
Miami, the NBA’s fourth-highest scoring team, led by five entering the fourth quarter and pulled away midway through the period, extending the margin to 101-83. Norman Powell contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat.
The Heat seized early control by capitalizing on Phoenix defensive lapses, using a 16-2 first-quarter run to build a 12-point lead. The Suns briefly moved in front during a sluggish second quarter, but Miami closed the half on a short surge to take a 58-48 advantage.
Both teams struggled from deep in the first half, with Miami shooting 3 of 17 from 3-point range and Phoenix just 2 of 19. The pattern continued after halftime as the Suns mounted another push before Miami answered late in the third. Isaiah Livers knocked down a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 82-77 heading into the fourth, but Phoenix couldn’t sustain the momentum.
Up next:
The Heat return home to host Orlando on Wednesday night, while the Suns welcome Brooklyn on Tuesday.
