Nikola Jovic leads undermanned Heat past Bucks

Field Level Media|published: Tue 13th February, 22:31 2024

Feb 13, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. credits: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Nikola Jovic set career highs with five 3-pointers and 24 points as the short-handed Miami Heat led wire to wire in a 123-97 win over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Duncan Robinson matched his season high with six 3-pointers and finished with 23 points for Miami, which led by as many as 31 and won for the fifth time in its past seven games. Tyler Herro and Kevin Love scored 19 points apiece, and Bam Adebayo recorded his seventh career regular-season triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley and Bobby Portis Jr. each added 16 points.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 12 points for Miami, which began its six-game road trip by shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 19 of 40 (47.5 percent) from 3-point range.

Jimmy Butler (personal), Josh Richardson (dislocated right shoulder) and Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) were all out for Miami, which started its 29th different lineup in 54 games this season.

The injuries resulted in a rare start for Jovic, who shot 8 of 13 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range. The second-year forward added seven rebounds and three assists.

Miami opened the game by making seven of its first 11 shots from 3-point range and led 40-28 at the end of the first quarter. Robinson and Jovic had 11 points apiece in the period.

The Heat maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second quarter and took a 69-52 lead into intermission. Antetokounmpo had 19 points for Milwaukee, which shot 5 of 17 (29.4 percent) from 3-point range for the half.

Miami closed the first half on a 7-0 run and entered the break shooting 12 of 21 (57.1 percent) from beyond the arc and 56.2 percent from the field.

The Heat allowed Milwaukee to cut the deficit to 79-70 with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter before entering the final period with a 98-76 advantage.

Herro hit a 3-pointer with seven minutes left in the contest to put Miami ahead 115-84, and both teams rested their starters in the final minutes.

—Field Level Media

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