The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off an unexpected 116-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, led by a balanced offensive attack and timely defense. Anfernee Simons paced the Trail Blazers with 24 points, while Deandre Ayton added a commanding 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Portland improved to 15-28 on the season, snapping Miami’s hopes of solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference. Jerami Grant contributed 18 points, and Deni Avdija filled the stat sheet with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Kel’el Ware posted 20 points and 16 rebounds for Miami, who struggled to find offensive rhythm without leading scorer Tyler Herro, sidelined due to groin tightness.
The Blazers turned a close game into a blowout during the third quarter, using a 21-8 run to build a 23-point lead. Ayton dominated the paint during the surge, scoring eight points while anchoring Portland’s defense. Portland capitalized on Miami’s shooting woes, particularly from beyond the arc, where the Heat missed 19 straight three-point attempts spanning the second and third quarters.
Miami made a late push, cutting the deficit to seven points with under two minutes remaining after Jaime Jaquez Jr. sank two free throws. However, Grant’s three clutch free throws in the final moments sealed the win for the Blazers.
Miami’s Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 22 points, including six three-pointers, but the team’s offensive inconsistency proved costly. Jimmy Butler added 13 points and eight assists but was limited to just 27 minutes. The Heat dropped to 21-21 and now face concerns about their three-point shooting, finishing the game at 33.3% from deep.
Portland’s bench provided crucial support, with Shaedon Sharpe and Dalano Banton combining for 23 points. Scoot Henderson added eight assists to complement his 11 points, while the Blazers committed just six turnovers for the game, including a first half without a single giveaway.