Heat Vs Bucks: Kevin Porter Jr. ignites Bucks in 128-117 win
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 128-117 in a game defined by an explosive fourth-quarter push — a late outburst that decided the heat vs bucks matchup and gave Milwaukee a bounce-back victory after a recent loss. Kevin Porter Jr. ’s closing burst and several momentum swings across four quarters determined the final margin.
Heat Vs Bucks: Porter’s fourth-quarter surge
Kevin Porter Jr. led all scorers with 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and his fourth-quarter scoring run was the decisive stretch. KPJ drilled an and-one fall-away triple that produced a four-point play and sparked a 10-0 run; 10 of his 13 fourth-quarter points came in the final 5: 35. Milwaukee’s defense held Miami without a field goal for 6: 34 during that decisive period, and the Bucks closed out the night with a 128-117 final score.
First half shifts: Kuzma’s quick start, Thomas’ late burst gave Bucks the edge at intermission
Kyle Kuzma opened the game by scoring nine of the Bucks’ first 11 points after having managed just three points on Sunday, an earlier struggle noted in the lead-up. Norman Powell scored six straight to push Miami up by three later in the first, but Porter drilled a triple with 13 seconds left in the quarter to give Milwaukee a 30-29 lead after the first 12 minutes. The game stayed tight in the second quarter: both benches traded early minutes, a 6-2 Bucks run drew an Erik Spoelstra timeout, and Ousmane Dieng hit a three for his first home points as a member of the Bucks to create a double-digit edge before Miami’s shooters hit four straight from deep.
Cam Thomas, Wiggins and the run that flipped the half
Andrew Wiggins scored in transition to cap a 14-2 run that pulled Miami even in the second quarter, but Cam Thomas finished the half with a five-point burst — completing a three-point play and sinking a step-back jumper with one second left — to give Milwaukee a 63-58 lead at the break. Those swings left the teams separated by five at halftime and set up a competitive second half.
Third quarter momentum swings and Portis’ late push
Miami opened the third with a 7-0 run to regain the lead, and the game featured contributions from Bucks who were held scoreless in the first half. AJ Green and Myles Turner, both scoreless earlier, helped answer; Green’s first three of the night capped an 8-2 run that briefly put Milwaukee back ahead. Miami then regained the edge and maintained it for much of the quarter. A Bobby Portis floater with 46 seconds left cut the Heat lead to 93-89 heading into the fourth.
Supporting scores, streaks and closing notes
Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis each scored 21 for Milwaukee, while Norman Powell finished with 26 for Miami. The victory put the Bucks back in the win column after a disappointing loss in their previous outing and completed a perfect home stand with a 3-0 record. The recap also included the jarring line "Dreadful three-point shooting performance dooms Milwaukee" and the upbeat line "The Bucks get another terrific win with the power of friendship!" — both present in the original recap of the game.
Additional game details: Ousmane Dieng’s three in the second quarter supplied his first home points as a Buck; Miami hit two early threes in the fourth to establish its largest lead of the night at nine before Milwaukee’s long-range response flipped the game back. The final sequence revolved around KPJ’s clutch scoring and a sustained defensive stretch that sealed the 128-117 result for Milwaukee.
