Heat Fall Short in Milwaukee as Bucks Rally Late for 120-113 Victory

Milwaukee, WI – February 24, 2025 – The Miami Heat walked into Fiserv Forum on Sunday night with a chance to steal a win against a surging Milwaukee Bucks squad. For three quarters, it looked like they might just pull it off. Tyler Herro was electric in his hometown, dropping 40 points and dishing out 11 assists, while the Heat built a 14-point lead early on. But in the end, it was the Bucks’ late-game grit—and a familiar superstar duo—that turned the tide, as Milwaukee stormed back in the fourth quarter to secure a 120-113 victory.

The game started with Miami on fire. Herro, the Milwaukee native, came out swinging, helping the Heat pour in 37 points in the first quarter alone. His quick drives and silky jumpers had the crowd buzzing—some cheering for the hometown kid, others groaning as he torched their Bucks. Bam Adebayo chipped in with 24 points, bullying his way through the paint, while Andrew Wiggins added 20 off the bench. By halftime, Miami held a comfortable 65-55 edge, and it felt like they might cruise to an upset.

But the Bucks, riding a three-game win streak coming into the night, weren’t about to roll over at home. Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction due to a nagging patella issue, the two-time MVP still managed to dominate when it mattered most. He finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds, his presence looming large in the clutch. Damian Lillard, shaking off a quiet start and a recent hamstring tweak, found his rhythm late, pouring in 28 points and adding eight assists. Together, they fueled a 35-20 fourth-quarter surge that flipped the script.
“We had it,” Herro said after the game, frustration etched on his face. “Forty points in my hometown, and we couldn’t close it out. It stings.”

Miami’s unraveling began early in the final frame. A Herro three-pointer tied the game at 109 with just over three minutes left, giving the Heat a flicker of hope. But the Bucks responded with an 11-4 run to slam the door shut. Brook Lopez (17 points) drained a clutch jumper, and Milwaukee’s bench—outscoring Miami’s reserves 34-12—kept the pressure on. The Heat, meanwhile, couldn’t buy a bucket when it counted, shooting just 5-for-15 in the fourth as their lead slipped away.

For the Bucks, it was their fourth straight win, as they are starting to become legit playoff contenders. They’ve now won seven of their last eight against Eastern Conference foes, solidifying their spot in the top tier of the standings. Miami, on the other hand, drops to 26-29, still hovering around the eighth seed in a post-Jimmy Butler era that’s proving tougher than expected.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra tipped his cap to the Bucks after the game. “They’re a championship-caliber team for a reason,” he said. “We had our chances, but you can’t let a team like that hang around. They’ll make you pay.”

Next up, the Heat head to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Monday night, looking to bounce back from this gut punch. For Heat fans, it’s a familiar feeling, a winnable game that got away, and a reminder of how thin the margin for error is against the league’s elite and how middling the Heat have become.

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