Nicholas Batum scored 18 points, helping the visiting Los Angeles Clippers rally to a 109-105 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday, January 28 (Friday, January 29, Manila time).
Miami lost its fifth straight game, the longest active skid in the NBA. Los Angeles won for the eighth time in the past 9 games.
The Clippers also got 17 points from Lou Williams and 16 points each from Marcus Morris Sr and Reggie Jackson. Morris scored 10 of his points in the 4th quarter. Terance Mann had 12 points for Los Angeles and Serge Ibaka added 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Tyler Herro, in his first game off the injured list, led Miami with 19 points. Herro, who missed 7 straight games due to a neck injury, also added 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Gabe Vincent added 18 points for the Heat, who also got 16 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists from Bam Adebayo. Max Strus scored 12 points, while Precious Achiuwa and Kendrick Nunn each had 10.
Miami, which led by 18 points early, got outscored 69-36 in the middle two quarters.
The Clippers were without 3 starters, including two stars who sat due to coronavirus protocols – Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Point guard Patrick Beverley (knee) also missed the game.
Miami had only 10 available players. The Heat were missing star wing Jimmy Butler (COVID-19 protocols) for the 10th straight game and Goran Dragic (groin) for the second straight game.
The Heat had a 33-19 lead after the 1st quarter, having shot 50% from the floor, including 8-for-13 from three-point range. The Clippers shot just 26.1%, including 1-for-9 from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles used an 14-4 run to tie the score at 45 with 2:04 left in the 2nd quarter, but Miami recovered and held a 50-48 lead at halftime. Vincent led all first-half scorers with 13 points.
The Clippers took their first lead of the game with 6:59 left in the 3rd as they made 3 consecutive three-pointers (two by Ibaka and one by Batum). Los Angeles kept coming and took an 88-69 lead after 3 quarters. Miami got outscored 40-19 in that 3rd.
The Heat started the fourth on a 10-0 run, but the Clippers held on for the win as Miami missed 3 consecutive three-point attempts on its final possession. The Heat made just 4 of 15 shots from beyond the arc after halftime. – Rappler.com
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