Not all of them are pretty, but nearly one week removed from losing by 36 to the Utah Jazz, the Miami Heat enacted vengeance and squeaked past Utah, 97-92, Thursday night inside Delta Center.
The Heat just lost 39.6 percent and 28.0 percent from 3-point range, but Tyler Herro led the way with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 7-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range. He was followed by sophomore forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., who tallied a season-high 20 points, including a critical above-the-break 3-pointer to put the Heat ahead by five points with 1:03 left.
Utah shot 39.8 percent, including 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) from 3-point range on the night. Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton had 23 points apiece, though the former had a game-high six made 3-pointers on 15 attempts.
Both teams combined for just 87 points on 34.5 percent shooting in the first half.
Jaquez’s triple in the fourth quarter tied a season-high for made 3s in a single game–doing so last on Dec. 26 against the Orlando Magic. Up to this point, he had not made multiple 3-pointers in a single game. Though he’s continued to produce in Jimmy Butler’s absence, scoring at least 13 points in his fourth straight game and 16 in his last three.
Miami’s win Thursday moves them to 19-17, while the tanking Jazz drop to 9-27. The Heat will have a prime opportunity to extend their winning streak to three games Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers, the fourth of their six-game road trip.