Miami Heat Fall Short Against Milwaukee Bucks, 106-103

The Miami Heat couldn’t complete a furious second-half rally against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, falling 106-103 in a hard-fought NBA Cup game. Despite a gritty effort that saw the Heat erase a 22-point deficit, clutch plays by Milwaukee in the final moments left Miami with more questions than answers in their pursuit of consistency this season.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled out shortly before tip-off due to swelling in his left knee. However, the Bucks adapted swiftly, leaning on Damian Lillard, who delivered a masterclass performance with 37 points, 12 assists, and eight three-pointers. Lillard’s explosive start set the tone, scoring 17 points in the first quarter and leading Milwaukee to an early 14-5 advantage.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the challenge Lillard posed, saying, “He’s a superstar for a reason. We had to adjust, but by the time we did, the damage was already done.”

A major factor in Miami’s defeat was their inability to match Milwaukee’s three-point barrage. The Bucks made 20 threes on 42 attempts compared to Miami’s 10-for-29 effort from deep. Even with solid performances from Jimmy Butler (23 points) and Tyler Herro (18 points), the Heat simply couldn’t keep pace with Milwaukee’s long-range firepower.

“We have to be better at closing out on shooters,” Bam Adebayo admitted postgame. “They hit some tough shots, but we let them get too comfortable early.”

Down by 22 points in the third quarter, Miami flipped the script with relentless defensive pressure and timely offense. Terry Rozier provided a spark off the bench, scoring 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. His ability to attack the rim and hit clutch shots helped fuel a 26-9 run, cutting the deficit to five entering the fourth quarter.

But as close as Miami came, they couldn’t seal the deal. AJ Green, an unheralded contributor for Milwaukee, drilled back-to-back threes late in the fourth quarter, extending the Bucks’ lead when Miami had clawed within one point.

“We gave ourselves a chance,” Spoelstra said. “That’s all you can ask for in a game like this, but their role players stepped up when it mattered most.”

Rozier and Butler Shine, But It’s Not Enough

Jimmy Butler, as usual, was the Heat’s stabilizing force, scoring 23 points on just 12 shots while shouldering much of the team’s offensive load. Rozier’s late-game heroics were a bright spot, particularly after a slow start to his season. His two-way play—contributing on both ends of the floor—was a key reason Miami remained competitive down the stretch.

“Rozier gave us a lot tonight,” Butler said. “We just didn’t finish, but his effort kept us in it.”

This loss drops Miami to 1-2 in NBA Cup play and 8-10 overall. The Heat’s defensive adjustments in the second half were promising, particularly their ability to limit Lillard late, but their perimeter defense and slow starts remain areas of concern.

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