Tyler Herro scored 23 points, including a record-setting three-pointer, as the Miami Heat edged the Utah Jazz 97-92 on Thursday night. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, with five of his points coming in the final 63 seconds to secure Miami’s win.
Herro shot 4-of-10 from beyond the arc while going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
The Heat, now 19-17, capitalized on transition points, outscoring Utah 17-7 in that category. Both teams struggled offensively, shooting under 40% from the field and combining for 31 turnovers. Despite the sloppy play, Miami’s hustle proved pivotal in closing out the game.
Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen each scored 23 points for the Jazz. Utah, now 9-27, played without six injured players, including Jordan Clarkson and John Collins, which further exposed their lack of depth.
Jaquez provided a crucial spark late in the game, hitting a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to fend off Utah’s comeback attempt. His seven assists tied for the team-high, shared with Nikola Jovic, who came off the bench to contribute 11 points and six rebounds.
Miami, missing Kevin Love for personal reasons and still adjusting to Jimmy Butler’s suspension, has shown steady improvement.
Utah’s struggles with turnovers continued, as the team coughed up the ball 17 times, many of them unforced errors. Despite their miscues, the Jazz made a late push in the final minutes, cutting the Heat’s lead to three before falling short.
Markkanen hit six three-pointers on 15 attempts but struggled with efficiency overall, shooting 8-of-24 from the field. Walker Kessler had a strong presence inside, recording nine points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks, while Sexton added five assists to his scoring total.
The Heat bench provided crucial contributions, particularly Jovic and Kel’el Ware, who chipped in eight points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Duncan Robinson struggled offensively, going scoreless on five three-point attempts, but his defensive presence and spacing helped Miami maintain control.
For the Jazz, rookie Isaiah Collier showed promise with eight points and nine assists, but Utah’s lack of consistency on both ends of the court prevented them from capitalizing on Miami’s errors. Key bench players Cody Williams and Patty Mills combined for just 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting.
