Heat power past Rockets with 115-105 statement victory

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Feb 28, 2026

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MIAMI – This time the Miami Heat got closing time right.

After blown fourth-quarter leads in the previous two games, road losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, Erik Spoelstra’s team this time held its ground in a 115-105 victory Saturday over the Houston Rockets at Kaseya Center.

Unable to score at the close in Milwaukee and Philadelphia, the Heat got solid closing play from Pelle Larsson to record one of their more impressive victories of the season.

The game was the first of at least four for the Heat without All-Star guard Norman Powell, who on Friday was diagnosed with a strained right groin that has him listed as week-to-week.

In addition, the Heat lost forward Andrew Wiggins for an extended span in the second half for eight stitches inside his mouth, after taking an elbow to the face during an offensive foul by Rockets center Alperen Şengün. Wiggins returned with 9:28 to play.

The Heat got 24 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, 13 points and 15 rebounds from Kel’el Ware, 20 points from Larsson and 18 from Tyler Herro. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 32 points.

Five degrees of heat from Saturday’s game:

— Game flow: The Heat led 32-28 after the end of the first period, after overcoming an early 10-point Rockets lead.

The Heat then went up 13 in the second period before Houston closed the half with a 52-51 lead.

In the third, there then was an early eight-point Heat lead, but the advantage was reduced to 85-83 entering the fourth.

The Heat again went up eight, taking a 100-92 lead with 6:10 to play on a Larsson 3-pointer. But with the Rockets then closing within three, Wiggins gave the Heat some wiggle room with a 3-point play with 2:24 to play for an eight-point advantage.

— Herro from start: With Powell sidelined, Herro made his first start since Jan. 15 and his 12th of his abbreviated season, in an opening lineup rounded out by Adebayo, Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Larsson.

That lineup entered 0-2.

“Tyler, for sure is a guy who’s already starting to get in that rhythm,” Spoelstra said pregame, “we need it.”

The game was the fifth back for Herro after missing the previous 15 with a rib injury. He closed 8 of 12 from the field.

— As for Norm: Powell’s groin strain has him listed as week to week, with Spoelstra essentially confirming pregame that Powell also will miss at least the next three games.

“I feel for Norm because he wants to be out there for all the games, especially these moments, you know, right now,” Spoelstra said, “But we’ll treat him and we’ll see where he is after the week.”

Spoelstra did not hide from the sobering reality.

“Well, we know what we miss with Norm,” he said of his All-Star guard, “I mean, he’s proven this year that he’s an explosive scorer in our system. But we have other guys who can step up.”

4. Adebayo/Ware: Largely reluctant lately to play big men Adebayo and Ware together, Spoelstra did just that from the end of the first period into the second, even after Adebayo picked up his second foul.

The initial pairing ended when Adebayo checked out with 8:33 left in the second period, with the Heat up 41-28, the Heat outscoring the Rockets by 16 during that stint. But as soon as Adebayo checked out, the Rockets went on a 7-0 run.

The two again were on the court late in the third period, but that time only for 90 seconds, with the Heat outscored by three. But when Adebayo returned in the fourth, it again was alongside Ware for closing time.

Adebayo and Ware had played just 40 seconds together in Thursday night’s road loss to the 76ers and two minutes together in Tuesday night’s road loss to the Bucks.

— The Bam boost: For his part, Adebayo for a third consecutive game converted multiple 3-pointers, largely having his way against the defense of the Rockets’ Şengun.

Adebayo was coming off a 29-point, 14-rebound performance in Thursday night’s loss to the 76ers.

Adebayo reached his 24th double-double of the season with 4:40 left in the third period.

He closed 9 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 5 on 3-pointers.

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