Bam Adebayo scored 29 points and Norman Powell added 27 as the Miami Heat blew a 20-point lead but regrouped late to defeat the Phoenix Suns 127–121 on Tuesday night.
Powell delivered the decisive blow with a 3-pointer with 48 seconds remaining to put Miami ahead for good. Andrew Wiggins sealed it at the line, knocking down two free throws after Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks was assessed a flagrant foul with 11.5 seconds left.
Adebayo was dominant down the stretch, knocking down three long jumpers in the final minutes and climbing to No. 2 on Miami’s all-time scoring list with 9,461 career points, passing Alonzo Mourning. Only Dwyane Wade (21,556) remains ahead of him in franchise history. Tyler Herro finished with 23 points as the Heat snapped a three-game losing streak.
Phoenix nearly pulled off a stunning comeback. Brooks and Grayson Allen each scored 25 points, Devin Booker had 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Mark Williams posted 18 points and 14 boards. The Suns, winners of three straight entering the night, fell to 0–11 this season when trailing by at least 20 points.
Miami appeared in full control early in the second half, extending its lead to 20 on Herro’s 3-pointer to open the third quarter. The Heat still led by 17 when Booker was called for an offensive foul with 9:17 left in the period, but a successful Suns challenge flipped the momentum.
Booker instead went to the line, igniting a 13–0 Phoenix run. Oso Ighodaro’s three-point play with 0.1 seconds left in the third quarter tied the game at 92, and Collin Gillespie’s 3-pointer early in the fourth gave the Suns their first lead of the night. Phoenix pushed the advantage to six before Adebayo and Powell took over to close it out.
Up next: The Suns visit Detroit on Thursday, while the Heat host Boston.
