----- Max Strus finished with 25 points and Omer Yurtseven added a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds as the Miami Heat defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 115-109 Wednesday night at Moda Center.
Without Jimmy Butler, the Heat find enough to top the Portland Trail Blazers!
Max Strus finished with 25 points and the Heat snapped a two-game losing streak with a 115-109 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night at Moda Center despite Butler's absence. After Kyle Lowry's ejection the Heat had just nine players for the rest of the game.
Strus connected on 7-of-13 from three-point range and added six rebounds and five assists. The Heat made 19-of-41 from beyond the arc. they were plus-12 at the three-point line and plus-6 at the free throw line.
Anfernee Simons followed up his career-high 43 points Monday night with a team-high 28 points Wednesday making nine of his 17 shots.
Dennis Smith Jr. hit a layup for the Blazers to tie it at 90 with 9:41 left. The Heat responded with a 15-2 run to go up 105-92.
Larry Nance Jr. left in the third quarter with a right knee injury and did not return. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups did not have an update on his status following the game.
The Trail Blazers said Damian Lillard is undergoing further evaluation of his abdomen injury, he will be out at least the next two-games, but Coach Billups did indicate he could be shutdown longer if rest is the best way to bring healing.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers host the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night at Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Chad's Take- If the team's plan is to tank, mission accomplished. They lost the game, but Simons provided some entertainment. Fun to watch him grow.