Tyler Herro and the Heat sink Jordan Clarkson and the Jazz, 126-123, at buzzer
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Mon, 02 Jan 2023
With a second to go, the game tied 123-all, and Utah’s Clarkson and 7-foot Markannen draped all over him, Tyler the Hero, plunged a three-pointed-dagger to beat the Jazz, 126-123, on New Year’s eve Saturday night.
Herro’s late heroics punctuated Miami’s offensive masterpiece and put a damper on another brilliant, albeit fruitless, outing for Utah who now has lost their fourth straight game.
In a see-saw game, Bam Adebayo had 32 points, Herro added 29, Victor Oladipo dropped 23 off the bench and Max Strus contributed 13 points for Miami.
As a team, the Heat made 45-of-89 baskets (50.6% FG), sank 13-of-39 treys (33% 3-pointers), made more assists (32-23), more fast break points (13-6), and considerably more points in the paint (54-32), and led by as much as 10 to keep the Jazz at bay.
The Heat scored on eight consecutive possessions to lead 62-52 late in the second quarter, with Oladipo and Herro making 3 shots each as they won for the third time in their last four games.
Said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra on NBA.com: “You want the ball in his (Herro) hands because you know he wants those moments.”
The opposing team and game host Jazz made 35-of-81 baskets (43.2% FG), sank an efficient 17-of-40 treys (42.5% 3-PT), grabbed more rebounds (49-37), sank more free throws (36-23), but all in vain.
Markannen shot 29, Filipino-American star guard Jordan Clarkson added 22, Malik Beasley 17, and Kelly Olnyk and Collin Sexton 14 points each, enough to excite the fans who braved the snow to get to Vivint Center in Salt Lake City.
Utah made it an exciting game in the third quarter as Markkanen and Clarkson made back-to-back 3-pointers to spark an 11-0 run that pushed the Jazz ahead, 95-88, before the end of the quarter.
The Jazz made seventeen 3-pointers and made 36 free throws, to no avail. Utah chipped at Miami’s 7-point lead and knotted the game, 123-all, with 6.3 seconds left with Lauri Markannen’s 3-for-3 free throws.
Upcoming:
Miami Heat (19-18): @ the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
Utah Jazz (19-20): Host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
Note of Appreciation:
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