MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat engineered a 58-point turnaround against the Milwaukee Bucks in 24 hours.
And just like that, an embarrassing loss was avenged.
Goran Dragic scored 26 points off the bench, Bam Adebayo finished with 22 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds and the Heat beat the Bucks 119-108 on Wednesday night — one day after Milwaukee made an NBA-record 29 3-pointers on the way to a 47-point romp on Miami’s home floor.
Tyler Herro scored 21 points and grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds for Miami, which trailed by 14 early in the second half and rallied to get a split of the two-game, two-night series against the team that finished with the NBA’s best record in each of the past two regular seasons.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double — 26 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists — for the Bucks. Donte DiVincenzo scored 15 and Jrue Holiday 13 for Milwaukee, while Khris Middleton was held to eight on 3-for-15 shooting.
Avery Bradley scored 16 and Kelly Olynyk had 15 for Miami.
Milwaukee’s lead was 72-58 early in the second half, 84-73 with 3:44 left in the third. It was all Miami from there, with the Heat — who were without Jimmy Butler for a second straight game because of a sprained right ankle — outscoring the Bucks 40-15 over the next 12 minutes
Herro beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer to get Miami within three, Dragic opened the final quarter with another 3 to tie it and the Heat, who trailed by as many as 51 on Tuesday, took the lead for good on a 3 by Olynyk with 9:04 left.
From the outset, it was nothing like Tuesday’s Milwaukee romp.
Milwaukee had 21 points after four minutes Tuesday; the Bucks were held to four in the first four minutes Wednesday. The Bucks had 46 points after one quarter Tuesday; they had 45 in the first 19 minutes on Wednesday.
And eventually, the Heat found a way to end 2020 with a win.
TIP-INS
Bucks: Brook Lopez, arguing that Adebayo flopped for a foul in the first half, theatrically fell to the court before Adebayo took the ensuing free throws. … Pat Connaughton scored 12 and Bobby Portis had 11 for Milwaukee.
Heat: Andre Iguodala got his first start as a member of the Heat, meaning for the 17th consecutive year — 2004 through 2020 — he has started at least one game. … Miami used 11 players in the first quarter alone.
2020 RECORD
Milwaukee finished the calendar year 33-20 (28-15 regular season, 5-5 playoffs). Miami finished 2020 at 36-29 (22-22 regular season, 14-7 playoffs).
4 FOR 4
The Heat have used four starting lineups in their first four games, a franchise first. The only other teams to use four lineups in four games this season: Cleveland and Minnesota. The Bucks have had the same starters in all five games.
UP NEXT
Bucks: Host Chicago on Friday.
Heat: Visit Dallas on Friday.
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TOP PHOTO: Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, center, drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk, left, forward Precious Achiuwa, second from left, and guard Gabe Vincent (2) defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)