Heat Defeated by Trail Blazers, Falls to 1-2 on Road Trip

The Miami Heat suffered a setback on their West Coast trip, falling to the Portland Trail Blazers 127-110 on January 22, 2026, at Moda Center. This defeat places the Heat’s record at 23-22 and marks their second loss in three games during this current five-game road stretch.

Game Breakdown

The Heat struggled to compete with the Trail Blazers’ three-point shooting, a surprising twist given Portland’s season average of 33.8 percent from beyond the arc, the worst in the NBA. On this night, the Blazers shot 40 percent from three, making 20 of 50 attempts, while Miami managed a mere 20 percent, hitting only 9 of 45.

First Half Highlights

• The Trail Blazers took a slim 64-63 lead into halftime.
• Portland had a significant advantage in three-point scoring, outpacing Miami 33-15.
• In the first half, the Heat shot 5 of 24 (20.8 percent) from beyond the arc.

Second Half Surge

The Heat briefly led by two points early in the third quarter. However, the Trail Blazers responded with a 23-4 run, extending their lead to 17 points. By the end of the third quarter, Portland had scored 51 points to Miami’s 18 from three-point range.

Key Performers

Shaedon Sharpe was the standout player for the Trail Blazers, scoring 27 points, including 5 of 9 from three-point territory. Deni Avdija also contributed significantly before leaving due to injury, scoring 20 points and pulling down seven rebounds.

Bam Adebayo led the Heat with an impressive 32 points, shooting 13 of 24 from the floor. However, he was the only Miami player to score 20 points, highlighting the team’s struggles offensively.

Injury Impact

The Heat faced significant injury challenges, as they were without starters Davion Mitchell and Tyler Herro, as well as reserve Kel’el Ware. Herro has missed 34 games this season, struggling with ongoing injuries.

• Davion Mitchell: Left shoulder contusion, third consecutive game missed.
• Tyler Herro: Right rib injury, expected to miss the entire road trip.
• Kel’el Ware: Right hamstring strain, will not return for the West Coast trip.

With their rotation affected, rookie Kasparas Jakucionis made his third career start but had limited impact, scoring just three points.

Next Steps for the Heat

The Heat continue their road trip against the Utah Jazz on January 24 and will face the Phoenix Suns shortly after. Miami hopes to find a way to overcome its shooting struggles and utilize its bench effectively as the team navigates through its injury challenges.

This loss represents a critical moment for the Heat to reassess their strategies, especially concerning three-point shooting, as they aim to improve their standing this season.