Heat Vs Bucks: KPJ’s Fourth-Quarter Surge Sends Milwaukee Past Miami, 128-117

In a late rally that decided the matchup, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 128-117, a game that underscored the dramatic nature of heat vs bucks showdowns and the importance of clutch finishing. Kevin Porter Jr. led the way with 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as Milwaukee snapped back after its prior loss.

Heat Vs Bucks: Game at a glance

Rapid recap: Bucks 128, Heat 117. Kevin Porter Jr. was the engine in the fourth quarter and finished as the game’s top scorer with 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis added 21 points apiece for Milwaukee. Norman Powell paced Miami with 26 points.

How Kevin Porter Jr. won it

Porter’s fourth quarter was decisive. He delivered the biggest shot of the night with an and-one fall-away triple that briefly put the Bucks ahead late, and his scoring burst included 10 of his 13 fourth-quarter points in the final 5: 35. That sequence sparked a 10-0 run that flipped momentum and ultimately sealed the win.

Quarter-by-quarter flow and key sequences

Opening minutes were lively and tight. After a back-and-forth first six minutes, Kyle Kuzma — who had struggled in the previous outing and had scored just three points on Sunday — opened this game by scoring nine of Milwaukee’s first 11. Norman Powell answered for Miami with six straight to give the Heat a late edge. The first quarter closed with Porter hitting a triple with 13 seconds left to put Milwaukee ahead 30-29.

The second quarter featured bench exchanges early, then a Bucks 6-2 spurt that prompted an Erik Spoelstra timeout. Ousmane Dieng hit his first home points as a Buck with a three that pushed Milwaukee to a double-digit lead, but Miami countered with four straight makes from distance. Andrew Wiggins scored in transition to cap a 14-2 run, and Cam Thomas closed the half with a three-point play and a step-back jumper to give Milwaukee a 63-58 lead at intermission.

Miami opened the third with a 7-0 run to regain the lead. Players who were scoreless in the first half — AJ Green and Myles Turner — chipped in, with Green’s first three of the night completing an 8-2 response that briefly returned Milwaukee to the front. The Heat reclaimed control and kept the edge through the quarter; a Bobby Portis floater with 46 seconds remaining sliced the deficit to 93-89 heading into the fourth.

The final period began with Miami hitting a pair of long-range shots to create its largest lead, nine points. Milwaukee countered as Green, Portis and Dieng hit three straight from distance, and Porter’s late four-point play flipped the game. The Bucks’ defense then kept Miami without a field goal for 6: 34 during the decisive stretch.

Bench, role players and turning points

• Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis each provided 21 points, stabilizing Milwaukee’s scoring beyond Porter’s burst.
• Ousmane Dieng recorded his first home points with Milwaukee and contributed key long-range shots in the fourth.
• Norman Powell led Miami with 26 points, keeping the Heat competitive throughout.
• Cam Thomas supplied a timely five-point burst that helped establish a halftime advantage for the Bucks.

Notes, takeaways and available support resources

Milwaukee finished a perfect home stand with a 3-0 record. Narrative snippets from the game’s coverage included contrasting assessments: one line called it a dreadful three-point shooting performance that dooms Milwaukee, while another celebrated it as another terrific win highlighting team chemistry and friendship.

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Final score recap: Bucks 128, Heat 117. The result hinged on Porter’s late-game heroics and a sustained defensive stretch that prevented Miami from mounting a comeback.