MIAMI — The Miami Heat continued their strong performance in the Eastern Conference, defeating the Houston Rockets 120-113 on Monday night despite an injury scare involving veteran guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry, who left the game in the third quarter with a sprained left hand, exemplified toughness by returning to the bench to witness his team’s victory.
Tyler Herro led the way for the Heat with 28 points, while Bam Adebayo added a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, most of which came in the second half. Kevin Love contributed 15 points, with Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. scoring 14 each. Josh Richardson finished with 12 points for Miami.
The win propelled the Heat to the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference, highlighting the tight race in the standings with Orlando, Indiana, Cleveland, and New York, all holding a 21-15 record.
Adebayo’s second-half surge was crucial for the Heat, especially after being slowed down by foul trouble in the first half.
The Rockets, led by Fred VanVleet with 32 points, opened a six-game road trip but struggled to overcome Miami’s offense. Alperen Sengun added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Houston, while Cam Whitmore and Jalen Green each scored 11 points. The Rockets were without Dillon Brooks due to an injury.
Miami managed to secure the win despite the absence of Jimmy Butler, who is recovering from a right toe joint sprain; the Heat have a 6-2 record in the games Butler has missed.
The game saw the Heat leading for most of the first half, though the Rockets managed to tie the game at 59-59 by halftime. Miami, however, never trailed in the second half and extended their lead to 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Houston’s performance marks a significant improvement from their previous seasons, showing progress under coach Ime Udoka’s leadership.
Looking ahead, the Rockets will visit Chicago, while the Heat will host Oklahoma City on Wednesday, as both teams continue their regular-season schedules.
