Bam Adebayo leads Heat to narrow win over Clippers
Bam Adebayo delivered 25 points and 10 rebounds, propelling the Miami Heat to a tight 120-119 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Norman Powell contributed 21 points in his first game back in Southern California, helping Miami reach a 4-3 record. For the Clippers, James Harden scored 29 points while Kawhi Leonard added 27. Despite the strong showing, Los Angeles dropped to 3-3, losing their first home game of the season.
Ivica Zubac added nine points and dominated the boards with 18 rebounds. Derrick Jones Jr., Bradley Beal, and John Collins each chipped in 12 points.
Shooting and turnovers define the game
- Miami shot 54.2% from the field, converting 12 of 25 three-pointers.
- Los Angeles hit 17 of 41 from beyond the arc.
- The Clippers’ 21 turnovers proved costly, leading to 37 points for Miami.
Final moments
The Heat led 120-116 after Adebayo sank two free throws with 56 seconds remaining.
He missed a close-range attempt with 26 seconds left, giving Harden the opportunity to narrow the gap. Harden’s three-pointer brought the Clippers within one with 20 seconds on the clock.
Leonard had the final chance, but his 26-foot step-back three-pointer at the buzzer missed.
Comeback falls short
Los Angeles had erased a 13-point third-quarter deficit to tie the game at 105-105, highlighted by a deep three from veteran guard Chris Paul. Despite the comeback, Miami steadied itself in the closing minutes to secure the narrow win.
Author’s Summary
Bam Adebayo’s strong two-way effort and Miami’s efficient shooting allowed the Heat to edge out the Clippers 120-119 despite a late rally from Los Angeles.