The Trail Blazerson of Portland started five young players against the Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons created a group that might be included in the team’s long-term plans.
When playing together, the combination showed promise, but it was unable to keep up with a mediocre Eastern Conference squad that was without its best player, Jimmy Butler, a suspended All-Star.
Tyler Herro scored 32 points to lead the Heat to a 119-98 victory at the Moda Center.
With 28 points, including 17 in the third quarter, Simons led the Blazers. However, the Blazers were kept to 15 points in the fourth quarter, and he only managed three points.
The three-point shooting stats were the most important. The Blazers shot 28.9% from three-point range (13 of 45), while the Heat shot 43.2% (19 of 44).
With a defensive rating of 113.6 during their most recent 2-3 trip, the Blazers demonstrated a significant improvement over their defensive rating of 124.4 in December.
Prior to Saturday night’s game, Blazers coach Chauncey Billupsack acknowledged the club’s progress but also stated that there was still much more the squad needed to achieve in that area.
Over the course of 48 minutes, the Heat made their point very clear.
In the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, right, defends while Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) drives to the hoop. (Photo by Amanda Loman/AP) APAP
The Heat had a 66-48 halftime advantage after the Blazers had a five-point lead in the first quarter and were dominated the remainder of the game.
In the first half, Miami made 13 of 27 (48.1%) three-pointers, including 9 of 13 in the second quarter.
In contrast, the Blazers were quite dominant in the third quarter. Simons’ 17 points helped them close the gap to 70-67. However, the Heat stormed back to win the quarter 94-83.
Before Herro made a long three-pointer, the Blazers were within 100-93. The Heat led 105-93 with 3:59 left after center Bam Adebayo scored on an alley-oop dunk a few seconds later.
From then, the Heat kept growing their lead as the Blazers shot 21.7% throughout the quarter.
Avdija finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Sharpe finished with 22 points and five assists.
To get to 32 points, Herro made 7 of 14 three-pointers and 11 of 22 from the field. Adebayo finished with six assists, 11 rebounds, and 13 points.
IMPORTANCE OF IT
After a strong trip, the Blazers (13-25) faltered against the Heat (20-17), who moved into a tie with the Indiana Pacers (21-18) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
INJURIES
Deandre Ayton (left calf soreness) and Robert Williams III (illness) did not participate. Clingan, who took Ayton’s position at the start, finished with 27 minutes of scoring, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.
UPCOMING
Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Blazers take on the Brooklyn Nets (13-25).
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
