Game ID: 22501027
Miami Heat @ Houston Rockets
Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 32 32 23 36 123MIA 29 34 33 26 122
HOU vs MIA ScoutingHOU vs 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.
HOU availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 22 min over the last 3
NEW Capela 12 to 17 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restNEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 37 min (110% of 34)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 16 min (120% of 14)
OUT Newton missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Newton missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (120% of 14)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 15 min since (109% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 6 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 17 min since (125% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 7 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (116% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 8 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (115% of 14)
MIA availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 3 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 6 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 9 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 22 min since (133% of 17)
NEW Ware 22 to 29 min over the last 4
MIA availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 31 min (99% of 31)
OUT Wiggins missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 7 since 2/28, returns tonight: 31 min (105% of 30)
OUT Jović missed 10 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 19 min since (111% of 17)
NEW Ware 22 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Jakučionis 18 to 24 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/17 · 2 days' restOUT Wiggins missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 11 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (105% of 30)
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 19 min since (111% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Larsson 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Ware 22 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Jakučionis 18 to 24 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 12 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (104% of 30)
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 20 min since (121% of 17)
NEW Larsson 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Ware 22 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Jakučionis 18 to 24 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 13 since 2/21, returns tonight: 4 min (22% of 17)
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 20 min since (119% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Larsson 26 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 8 since 3/06, returns tonight: 20 min (65% of 30)
OUT Jaquez Jr. missed 2 since 3/19, returns tonight: 20 min (69% of 28)
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 33 min since (106% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Jović back 3/21 after 13, 4 min since (22% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 39 min over the last 4
NEW Larsson 26 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Fontecchio 17 to 24 min over the last 4
MIA availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restBACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 32 min since (102% of 31)
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 20 min since (65% of 30)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (105% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 20 min since (69% of 28)
BACK Jović back 3/21 after 13, 4 min since (22% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 38 min over the last 4
MIA availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 22 min since (71% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 19 min since (69% of 28)
MIA availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 21 min since (70% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 20 min since (71% of 28)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 34 free throws a game; Adebayo at 38 and Powell at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Wiggins (7 straight), Jović (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 34 free throws a game to Houston's 18 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Miami's 125. Call it Houston 116, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.
3/13 vs NOP 107-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 107-105. HOU shot 43% (40 of 94) to NOP's 44%, 14 of 41 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 26. Durant led with 32 (13 of 24, 3 of 7 from three); Thompson added 23, Sheppard 18. The hinge was Q1, 28-24: from level to 4 ahead.
3/16 vs LAL 92-100 — HOU notes
HOU lost 92-100. HOU shot 48% (38 of 79) to LAL's 44%, 5 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to LAL's 22. HOU turned it over 22 times to LAL's 11, and LAL turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 44-32 for them. Smith Jr. led with 22 (9 of 17, 2 of 8 from three); Thompson added 19, Durant 18. Q2 was theirs, 29-22, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 78-63 against them. They led by as many as 10. Sheppard's -13 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 vs LAL 116-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 116-124. HOU took 15 more shots (91 to 76), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to LAL's 61%, 11 of 32 from three, and got to the line 17 times to LAL's 27. Sengun led with 27 (10 of 15, 6 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 26, Smith Jr. 18. Q3 was theirs, 37-22, turning a 12-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 102-79 against them. Finney-Smith's -13 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 vs ATL 117-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-95. HOU shot 51% (42 of 83) to ATL's 42%, 14 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to ATL's 17 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 51-37 for them. Durant led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 23, Sengun 15. The hinge was Q3, 39-22: a lead of 8 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/21 vs MIA 123-122 — HOU notes
HOU won 123-122. HOU shot 52% (45 of 86) to MIA's 51%, 16 of 35 from three. Durant led with 27 (9 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Thompson added 24, Sheppard 23. The hinge was Q4, 36-26: HOU came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/23 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Jones at 16 a game. Without Simons (13 straight), Okoro (6 straight), Collins (39 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Chicago's 124 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Chicago minus-0. Call it Houston 117, Chicago 114, Chicago keeping it close.
3/25 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Randle at 23 and Dosunmu at 19 a game. Without Edwards (4 straight), Conley (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Houston's 115 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota plus-1. Call it Minnesota 115, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
3/27 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Jerome at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Without Mashack (5 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-14 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Memphis's 126. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/29 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Bey at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (2 straight), McGowens (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it Houston 116, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/12 vs MIL 112-105 — MIA notes
MIA won 112-105. MIA shot 41% (38 of 92) to MIL's 49%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MIL's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 53-36 for them. Larsson led with 28 (9 of 14, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Adebayo added 21, Jakučionis 18. The hinge was Q1, 31-21: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Jakučionis was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/14 vs ORL 117-121 — MIA notes
MIA lost 117-121. MIA shot 47% (41 of 88) to ORL's 49%, 12 of 38 from three. MIA turned it over 10 times to ORL's 19. The glass went 32-49 against them. Jaquez Jr. led with 22 (9 of 16, 1 of 3 from three); Adebayo added 20, Powell 20. Q4 was theirs, 34-23, the deficit cut from 15 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 98-83 against them. Ware's -17 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 @ CHA 106-136 — MIA notes
MIA lost 106-136. MIA shot 40% (36 of 89) to CHA's 53%, 7 of 36 from three, and went to the line 34 times to CHA's 21 — 27 points from the stripe to their 17. Herro led with 20 (5 of 11, 9 of 9 at the line); Powell added 17, Johnson 15. Q2 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 103-73 against them. Larsson's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 vs LAL 126-134 — MIA notes
MIA lost 126-134. MIA took 13 more shots (94 to 81), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to LAL's 53%, 12 of 38 from three, and got to the line 22 times to LAL's 45. Adebayo led with 28 (9 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Herro added 21, Powell 20. Q1 was theirs, 42-29, but the other 3 periods went 105-84 against them. They led by as many as 15. Larsson's -16 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ HOU 122-123 — MIA notes
MIA lost 122-123. MIA shot 51% (47 of 92) to HOU's 52%, 16 of 41 from three. Adebayo led with 32 (12 of 21, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Herro added 25, Fontecchio 21. Q3 was theirs, 33-23, turning a 1-point deficit into a 9-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-89 against them. They led by as many as 12. Gardner's -15 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs SAS — 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 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Adebayo at 25 and Herro at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Wiggins (8 straight), Jaquez Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 25 and Fox at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Castle (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-11 a night and Miami minus-3 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 108 a night to Miami's 124. Call it San Antonio 119, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.
3/25 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Harden at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Allen (9 straight), Tyson (2 straight), Porter Jr. (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Powell at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 119 a night to Miami's 130. Call it Cleveland 122, Miami 117.
3/27 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Harden at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (10 straight), Tyson (3 straight), Porter Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Herro at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jović (2 straight), Smith (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-8 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 117 a night to Miami's 126. Call it Cleveland 121, Miami 116.
3/29 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 128, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Nembhard at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Thompson (8 straight), Jones (4 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 22 and Powell at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jović (3 straight), Smith (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 44 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Miami 122, Indiana 121, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MIABA B. Adebayo
DM D. Mitchell
DS D. Smith
JA Jakucionis
KJ K. Jakučionis
KW K. Ware
MG M. Gardner
NJ N. Jović
PL P. Larsson
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Herro
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DF D. Finney-Smith
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
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
Durant passes Jordan, then Thompson tips in the winner in Rockets' 123-122 victory over Heat
HOUSTON -- — Kevin Durant scored 27 points to move past Michael Jordan for fifth place on the NBA's career scoring list and Amen Thompson had a tip-in at the buzzer to lift the Houston Rockets to a 123-122 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Durant’s shot for the win bounced off the rim and Thompson tipped it in to give Houston the thrilling victory. Durant has 32,294 points in his career, two more than Jordan.
Miami trailed by eight before using a 9-2 run, with a 3 from Simon Fontecchio, to get within 119-118 with 46.3 seconds to go. Reed Sheppard made a shot in the lane to push the lead to 121-118 with 12.7 seconds left.
Bam Adebayo made two free throws after that before Jabari Smith Jr. was called for goaltending on a layup by Fontecchio to put the Heat on top 122-121 with 5.4 seconds remaining and set up the wild ending.
Adebayo had 32 points and tied a career high with 21 rebounds for the Heat, who dropped their fourth straight. Adebayo’s big rebounding night came after he had the second-highest scoring game in NBA history when he scored 83 points in a win over the Wizards on March 10.
The Rockets were up by two when Durant made consecutive 3-pointers to make it 117-109. He moved past Jordan on the second and briefly lifted his arms in triumph after draining the shot.
The Heat were up by 11 early in the fourth before Houston used a 15-0 run, with two 3-pointers from Jabari Smith Jr . and one each from Sheppard and Aaron Holiday , to take a 106-102 lead with less than seven minutes remaining.
Fontecchio snapped a four-minute scoring drought for Miami after that, but Holiday hit another 3 seconds later to leave the Rockets up 109-105 midway through the quarter.
Up next Heat: Visit San Antonio on Monday night.
Rockets: Begin a four-game road trip Monday night at Chicago.