Nikola Jovic leads Heat bench to big day, late win over Blazers

Nikola Jovic scored a career-high 29 points off the bench and made a key block late in the game to help the Miami Heat outlast the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 136-131, on Saturday.

With Miami holding a 129-127 lead with 1:50 remaining in regulation, Portland's Jrue Holiday attacked the rim off the dribble. Holiday went up for a lay-in, but could not get his attempt over Jovic's outstretched arm.

The block led to a transition opportunity, and Andrew Wiggins sank a corner 3-pointer on the ensuing Heat possession to open up a five-point lead.

In what was otherwise a high-scoring affair, neither team could produce another point for the next 70 seconds. Davion Mitchell broke the drought with a pair of free throws, effectively putting away Miami's second win in as many nights.

Jovic's personal-best led all Miami scorers, and paced the Heat bench to 63 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 14 points and Dru Smith scored 13.

Miami also put up a season-high 74 points in the paint, edging out Portland's own effective interior scoring effort with 68. Deni Avdija led all scorers with 33 points, grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and doled out eight assists.

Portland's Avdija was not the only player flirting with a triple-double. Jovic grabbed nine rebounds and dished seven assists, while Jaquez snared 12 rebounds to match Kel'el Ware for a game-high and distributed another seven assists.

Miami's reserves stepped up to help fill the voids left with big man Bam Adebayo and guard Tyler Herro sidelined due to injury. Adebayo missed the first half of the Heat's weekend back-to-back against Charlotte, while Herro has yet to debut in 2025-26.

Norman Powell scored 22 points for Miami, his fifth straight game with at least 21. Wiggins had 15 points and Pelle Larsson finished with 16 in the win.

Shaedon Sharpe scored 21 points and Holiday added 18 points and 12 assists for a Portland team tipping off a five-game road swing with Saturday's contest.

--Field Level Media