Game ID: 22401015
Houston Rockets @ Miami Heat
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIA 27 32 21 18 98HOU 23 28 27 24 102
HOU @ MIA ScoutingHOU @ MIA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIA availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 10 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 4 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Love missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/08 after 5, 33 min since (103% of 32)
BACK Ware back 3/08 after 3, 23 min since (103% of 22)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/07 after 3, 10 min since (50% of 20)
MIA availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Jović missed 11 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 30 min (169% of 18)
OUT Burks missed 5 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Love missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/08 after 5, 34 min since (107% of 32)
BACK Ware back 3/08 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/07 after 3, 14 min since (71% of 20)
MIA availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 12 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 6 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Love missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/08 after 5, 31 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Ware back 3/08 after 3, 24 min since (108% of 22)
BACK Anderson back 3/15 after 2, 30 min since (169% of 18)
MIA availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 13 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 7 since 3/07, returns tonight: 14 min (80% of 18)
OUT Love missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 3/15 after 2, 23 min since (133% of 18)
MIA availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 30 min (93% of 32)
OUT Jović missed 14 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Love missed 7 since 3/08, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 11)
BACK Anderson back 3/15 after 2, 23 min since (133% of 18)
BACK Burks back 3/19 after 7, 14 min since (80% of 18)
MIA availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Rozier missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 15 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/21 after 2, 30 min since (93% of 32)
BACK Burks back 3/19 after 7, 9 min since (51% of 18)
BACK Love back 3/21 after 7, 6 min since (51% of 11)
NEW Ware 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Jaquez Jr. 20 to 26 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Rozier missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 16 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 20 min (114% of 18)
BACK Wiggins back 3/21 after 2, 32 min since (102% of 32)
BACK Burks back 3/19 after 7, 9 min since (50% of 18)
BACK Love back 3/21 after 7, 6 min since (51% of 11)
NEW Ware 22 to 30 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Rozier missed 4 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 17 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Love missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/21 after 2, 31 min since (97% of 32)
BACK Anderson back 3/25 after 3, 20 min since (114% of 18)
BACK Burks back 3/19 after 7, 13 min since (72% of 18)
NEW Ware 22 to 29 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Rozier missed 5 since 3/19, returns tonight: 4 min (16% of 26)
OUT Jović missed 18 since 2/24, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Love missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/21 after 2, 31 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Anderson back 3/25 after 3, 19 min since (108% of 18)
BACK Burks back 3/19 after 7, 13 min since (75% of 18)
NEW Highsmith 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Ware 22 to 29 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 5 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 28 min since (77% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 6 min since (49% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 6 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 26 min since (74% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 10 min since (86% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 7 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 29 min since (82% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 10 min since (86% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 8 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 31 min since (88% of 36)
NEW Eason 24 to 32 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 6 since 3/10, returns tonight: 34 min (107% of 32)
OUT Whitmore missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 9 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 32 min since (90% of 36)
NEW Green 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 32 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 10 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 34 min since (107% of 32)
NEW Eason 24 to 32 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 11 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 10 min (81% of 13)
OUT Sheppard missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 33 min since (103% of 32)
HOU availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 12 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 4 since 3/19, returns tonight: 14 min (115% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 4 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 33 min since (103% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 10 min since (81% of 13)
NEW Green 33 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/30 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 3/15, returns tonight: 13 min (83% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 13 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 11 since 3/08, returns tonight: 12 min (99% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 3/21, returns tonight: 10 min (84% of 12)
OUT Tate missed 5 since 3/19, returns tonight: 13 min (113% of 11)
BACK Thompson back 3/21 after 6, 32 min since (98% of 32)
BACK Holiday back 3/25 after 2, 11 min since (90% of 13)
BACK Landale back 3/27 after 4, 14 min since (115% of 12)
NEW Adams 15 to 23 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 15 free throws a game; Herro at 21 and Wiggins at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Jović (14 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Green at 27 and Eason at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 16 a night. Without Thompson (6 straight), Whitmore (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-16 a night and Miami minus-9 and the line, where Houston takes 24 free throws a game to Miami's 15. Call it Houston 115, Miami 108.
3/14 vs BOS 91-103 — MIA notes
MIA lost 91-103. MIA shot 45% (34 of 75) to BOS's 43%, 13 of 34 from three. Wiggins led with 23 (9 of 21, 3 of 8 from three); Herro added 19, Jaquez Jr. 13. Q2 was theirs, 27-20, the deficit cut from 7 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 83-64 against them. Robinson's -18 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ MEM 91-125 — MIA notes
MIA lost 91-125. MIA shot 40% (35 of 88) to MEM's 55%, 9 of 37 from three. The glass went 37-51 against them. Ware led with 19 (8 of 14, 2 of 6 from three); Adebayo added 18, Anderson 13. Q2 was theirs, 21-25, but the other 3 periods went 100-70 against them. Adebayo's -29 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 @ NYK 95-116 — MIA notes
MIA lost 95-116. MIA shot 48% (39 of 82) to NYK's 49%, 6 of 23 from three, and went to the line 12 times to NYK's 6 — 11 points from the stripe to their 6. MIA turned it over 20 times to NYK's 13, and NYK turned those into 12 steals. Robinson led with 22 (8 of 12, 5 of 9 from three); Herro added 20, Mitchell 12. Q1 was theirs, 29-18, but the other 3 periods went 98-66 against them. They led by as many as 13. Ware's -27 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 vs DET 113-116 — MIA notes
MIA lost 113-116. MIA shot 49% (44 of 90) to DET's 51%, 10 of 32 from three. The glass went 37-47 against them. Adebayo led with 30 (12 of 24, 2 of 5 from three); Herro added 29, Ware 14. Q1 was theirs, 32-22, but the other 3 periods went 94-81 against them. They led by as many as 12.
3/21 vs HOU 98-102 — MIA notes
MIA lost 98-102. MIA shot 52% (38 of 73) to HOU's 46%, 10 of 24 from three, and got to the line 14 times to HOU's 21. MIA turned it over 20 times to HOU's 15, and HOU turned those into 17 steals. The glass went 34-46 against them. Wiggins led with 30 (10 of 13, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Adebayo added 16, Ware 16. Q1 was theirs, 27-23, but the other 3 periods went 79-71 against them. They led by as many as 11. Robinson's -11 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 15 free throws a game; Wiggins at 20 and Adebayo at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Rozier (2 straight), Jović (15 straight), Anderson (2 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; Ball at 23 and Bridges at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Gra. Williams (54 straight), Baugh (2 straight), Salaün (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 42 percent from three to Miami's 32 and the defense, Miami allowing 112 a night to Charlotte's 126. Call it Miami 113, Charlotte 109, Charlotte keeping it close.
3/25 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; Wiggins at 27 and Herro at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Rozier (3 straight), Jović (16 straight), Anderson (3 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Curry at 22 and Butler III at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Golden State takes 26 free throws a game to Miami's 16 and the glass, where Golden State has been minus-3 a night and Miami minus-9. Call it Golden State 110, Miami 109, Miami keeping it close.
3/27 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 105, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 15 free throws a game; Wiggins at 27 and Herro at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Rozier (4 straight), Jović (17 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Risacher at 18 a game. Without Johnson (28 straight), Capela (7 straight), Wallace (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 116 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-1 a night and Miami minus-6. Call it Miami 114, Atlanta 113, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/29 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grimes at 25 and Edwards at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Maxey (13 straight), Oubre Jr. (8 straight), Walker IV (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 53 percent and 47 from three, 17 free throws a game; Wiggins at 24 and Herro at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Rozier (5 straight), Jović (18 straight), Robinson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 47 percent from three to Philadelphia's 33 and the defense, Miami allowing 104 a night to Philadelphia's 125. Call it Miami 115, Philadelphia 110.
3/14 vs DAL 133-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 133-96. HOU shot 51% (54 of 105) to DAL's 41%, 15 of 31 from three. The glass went 67-34 for them. Eason led with 30 (11 of 15, 2 of 3 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Ja. Green added 23, Sengun 16. The hinge was Q3, 37-21: a lead of 13 became 29, and the lead reached 40. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
3/15 vs CHI 117-114 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-114. HOU shot 45% (44 of 98) to CHI's 46%, 14 of 44 from three, and went to the line 26 times to CHI's 16 — 15 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 54-36 for them. Ja. Green led with 28 (11 of 25, 5 of 13 from three); Sengun added 24, VanVleet 23. The hinge was Q3, 25-18: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. HOU trailed 60-65 at the half and won the second half 57-49. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/17 vs PHI 144-137 — HOU notes
HOU won 144-137 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 48% (51 of 107) to PHI's 51%, 22 of 53 from three. The glass went 58-35 for them. Green led with 30 (10 of 26, 5 of 17 from three); Smith Jr. added 30, Brooks 25. The hinge was Q3, 45-24: HOU came in trailing by 21 and left it level. HOU trailed 57-78 at the half and won the second half 87-59. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/19 @ ORL 116-108 — HOU notes
HOU won 116-108. HOU shot 47% (38 of 81) to ORL's 45%, 11 of 35 from three, and went to the line 32 times to ORL's 20 — 29 points from the stripe to their 17. J. Green led with 26 (8 of 18, 3 of 11 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Sengun added 22, VanVleet 19. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: a lead of 4 became 16. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/21 @ MIA 102-98 — HOU notes
HOU won 102-98. HOU shot 46% (39 of 84) to MIA's 52%, 14 of 28 from three, and went to the line 21 times to MIA's 14 — 10 points from the stripe to their 12. HOU turned it over 15 times to MIA's 20. The glass went 46-34 for them. VanVleet led with 37 (13 of 17, 9 of 11 from three); Thompson added 18, Brooks 11. The hinge was Q3, 27-21: the deficit went from 8 to 2. HOU trailed 51-59 at the half and won the second half 51-39. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/23 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Eason at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 18 a night. Without Whitmore (4 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gordon at 26 and Murray at 20 a game. Without Jokić (3 straight), Strawther (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-18 a night and Denver plus-1 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Denver's 121. Call it Houston 120, Denver 113.
3/25 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Green at 24 and VanVleet at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Whitmore (5 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Okongwu at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Johnson (27 straight), Capela (6 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Atlanta plus-4 and the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 19. Call it Houston 118, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/27 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sexton at 18 and George at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Collins (7 straight), Potter (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Green at 25 and VanVleet at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Whitmore (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Utah minus-6 and the line, where Houston takes 28 free throws a game to Utah's 18. Call it Houston 117, Utah 111.
3/30 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Booker at 20 a game. Without Beal (6 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Whitmore (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-1. Call it Houston 114, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MIAAB A. Burks
AW A. Wiggins
BA B. Adebayo
DM D. Mitchell
DR D. Robinson
HH H. Highsmith
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
KL K. Love
KW K. Ware
TH T. Herro
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
MIA/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
VanVleet scores 37 as surging Rockets beat sliding Heat 102-98
MIAMI -- —
Fred VanVleet scored 37 points and the surging Houston Rockets won their ninth straight, beating the Miami Heat 102-98 Friday night.
VanVleet shot 13 for 17 from the field and made a season-high 9 of 11 3-pointers as the Rockets extended the league’s longest active winning streak. Houston also snapped a nine-game skid against Miami, which lost its 10th straight. It is the Heat’s longest skid since they lost 11th straight in 2007-08.
Amen Thompson returned after missing the last six games because of a sprained left ankle and finished with 18 points and seven steals while Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith each added 11 points for the Rockets.
Houston rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the third quarter and got to 80-78 on Jalen Green’s jumper to close the period.
Miami’s Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points, his highest total since the Heat acquired him from Golden State for Jimmy Butler on Feb. 6. Kel’el Ware had 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Bam Adebayo also scored 16 points for the Heat.
Takeaways Rockets: Houston remained second in the Western Conference.
Heat: Miami squandered its 20th double digit lead that led to a loss. Wiggins’ jump shot two minutes into the third period put the Heat ahead 65-54 before Houston rallied.
Key moment VanVleet went on a personal 9-2 run to start the fourth that put the Rockets ahead for good. He hit two 3-pointers, a lay-up and made 1 of 2 free throws that gave Houston an 87-84 lead.
Key stat The Rockets outrebounded the Heat 46-34 for their eighth consecutive game of winning the rebounding edge against their opponent.
Up next Rockets host Denver on Sunday, and Heat host Charlotte.