Miami Heat traveled to L.A. and walked out with a clutch 120–119 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 25 points and 10 rebounds, pulling the team through their most critical sequences.
Norman Powell added 21 points in his return to Southern California, providing a spark off the bench.
For the Clippers, James Harden poured in 29 points and 8 assists, while Kawhi Leonard scored 27—yet both came up just short.
Miami converted 54.2% of their field goal attempts and forced 21 turnovers, which translated into 37 points—a telling advantage.
The Clippers surged out of the gate, pulling ahead behind a dominant second quarter (41 points). But the Heat responded with a furious third quarter—scoring 37—they erased deficits and held firm down the stretch. With 56 seconds remaining, Adebayo sank two free throws to push Miami ahead 120–116. Although Harden hit a triple with 20 seconds left to cut the gap to one, Leonard’s final step-back 3 at the buzzer rimmed out.
The Heat snapped a two-game losing streak and are now 4-3 on the early trip.
The Clippers, meanwhile, fell at home for the first time in four tries and remain 3-3, raising questions about finishing ability when the pressure rises.
Miami’s ability to turn opponent turnovers into points and deliver in crunch time suggests they’re tightening up as contenders.
For the Clippers, even with elite star talent, their execution in close moments—both offensively and defensively—needs sharpening.
The Heat hit the road again, heading to Denver for their next matchup. They’ll aim to build momentum off this tough-earned win.
The Clippers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday with hopes of resetting their rhythm and bounce back home.
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This was more than just another regular-season game—it was a microcosm of what title-chase teams must prove: composure under fire, depth beyond stars, and opportunistic defense. Miami showed it. The Clippers… still have questions unanswered.
