Herro steps up again as Heat win streak reaches 6 with 106-103 NBA Cup win over Bucks

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Nov 26, 2025

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MIAMI — Nothing about the Miami Heat’s first 17 games was about hero ball, with an equal-opportunity approach fueling unexpected early-season success.

The past two games, however, have been a different story, with Herro ball both needed and impactful.

Leading the Heat in scoring for the second time in as many appearances since returning from September ankle surgery, Tyler Herro’s 29 points proved essential in Wednesday night’s 106-103 victory over the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center.

The win not only extended the Heat’s winning streak to six, but kept the Heat alive for the team’s first-ever berth in the knockout round of the NBA Cup. It also was the 800th career regular-season win for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

With the rotation again whole after a series of continuity robbing injuries, the Heat took advantage of the injury absence of Antetokounmpo to move to 2-0 on a four-game homestand that continues Saturday night against the East-leading Detroit Pistons.

Beyond Herro’s offense, the Heat got 17 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, and 11 points and nine rebounds from Kel’el Ware.

5 degrees of Heat from Wednesday night’s NBA Cup game

— Game flow: The Heat led 29-27 at the end of the first period and 53-47 at half. They then briefly fell behind in the third quarter, before taking an 81-77 lead into the fourth.

An 8-0 run capped by an Andrew Wiggins 3-pointer then put the Heat up 98-86 with 6:14 to play.

But with 3:01 to play, the Bucks clawed within 102-96 before Herro returned. Then, with 47.4 seconds to play, Ryan Rollins converted inside to draw the Bucks within 106-103.

The game indeed when Bucks center Myles Turner was off with a potential tying 3-pointer.

— Everyone plays: For the first time this season, the entire Heat rotation was available.

That had the Heat not only rolling out a starting lineup of Herro, Adebayo, Wiggins, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell, but also a second unit of Ware, Simone Fontecchio, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith.

The rotation then tightened in the second half, with Fontecchio out of the mix.

The overall approach had Nikola Jovic and Keshad Johnson out of the mix.

The lone extended deviation early with the two-unit approach was Adebayo and Ware minutes together.

— Second time around: After leading the Heat in scoring with 24 points in Monday night’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks in his season debut, when Powell, Wiggins and Jovic were not available, Herro again stood as a Heat offensive focus.

He also had a trademark moment when he pulled up in transition with a quick-launch 3-pointer, one of only four the Heat converted in the first half.

It was the second appearance for Herro after missing the season’s first 17 games following September ankle surgery.

Herro closed 9 of 15 from the field, with seven assists and five rebounds.

— Powell play: After leading the Heat in scoring in Sunday’s victory in Philadelphia and then taking off Monday with a combination groin/hip issue, Powell was less than his typical attacking self.

He stood with 11 points on 11 shots at the same stage in the fourth quarter that Herro stood with 22 points on 11 shots.

Powell closed with those 11 points, shooting 4 of 11 from the field, including 0 for 5 on 3-pointers.

— The Cup: With the victory, the Heat will win their pool-play group and advance to the knockout-round quarterfinals if the New York Knicks lose at home Friday to the Bucks.

If the Knicks, who defeated the Heat in pool play, win that game, the Heat, at 3-1, would have to qualify as the East’s lone wild card through point differential, now at a +49 in the tournament that also counts in the regular-season standings.

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