MIAMI (Interstat) — Bam Adebayo scored 29 points, including three long jumpers in the final minutes, and the Miami Heat recovered after squandering a 20-point lead to beat the Phoenix Suns 127-121 on Tuesday night at FTX Arena. Norman Powell added 27 points for Miami, hitting a crucial 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to put the Heat ahead for good. Tyler Herro scored 23. Devin Booker led Phoenix with 24 points and nine assists. The Suns erased a large halftime deficit with a 38-point third quarter but could not hold on. Miami snapped a three-game losing streak before a crowd of 19,700. The Suns fell to 24-16, while the Heat improved to 21-19.

MIAMI (Interstat) — In a game defined by wild momentum swings and a dramatic final minute, the Miami Heat survived a furious second-half comeback by the Phoenix Suns to escape with a 127-121 victory Tuesday night at FTX Arena. Bam Adebayo scored 29 points, including three crucial jumpers in the final two minutes, and Norman Powell added 27 as the Heat snapped a three-game losing streak. The win improved Miami to 21-19, while Phoenix fell to 24-16. The contest appeared headed for a Miami blowout early. The Heat erupted for 36 first-quarter points, fueled by hot shooting from Adebayo and Tyler Herro, who finished with 23 points. They extended their lead to 20 points in the second quarter, taking a 71-54 advantage into halftime after shooting a blistering 58% from the field and connecting on 8 of 16 three-point attempts. Phoenix, by contrast, struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting just 37% in the half. The narrative flipped completely in the third quarter. The Suns, led by the relentless attacking of Dillon Brooks and the playmaking of Devin Booker, unleashed a 38-point period. Their defense stiffened, holding Miami to just 21 points on 30% shooting. Brooks, who scored 25 points, was central to the surge, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. By the time the quarter ended, Phoenix had not only erased the massive deficit but built a slim 92-90 lead, completing a stunning 38-19 run over the 12-minute span. The fourth quarter became a tense, back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes. Phoenix’s Grayson Allen, who scored 25 points off the bench, hit a trio of three-pointers to keep the Suns afloat. With the score tied at 118 and under a minute to play, the game reached its critical juncture. Following a traveling turnover by Phoenix center Mark Williams, Miami executed a decisive set. Jaime Jaquez Jr., who tallied 16 points and a game-high eight assists, found Powell curling off a screen for a 23-foot three-pointer with 48.3 seconds remaining, putting the Heat ahead 121-118. Phoenix’s ensuing possession ended in disaster. After a missed three by Booker and an offensive rebound, Williams missed a tip-in attempt. As players scrambled for the loose ball, Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks was called for a flagrant foul against Miami’s Andrew Wiggins with 11.5 seconds left. After a review, the call was upheld. Wiggins made both free throws to extend the lead to five. The Suns, forced to foul, sent Wiggins back to the line with 4.8 seconds left, and he sank two more to seal the victory. Wiggins finished with 12 points and was instrumental defensively with four steals. The most important sequence of the game was unquestionably the final minute, where Miami’s execution under pressure contrasted sharply with Phoenix’s critical mistakes. Powell’s clutch three-pointer provided the final lead change, and the subsequent flagrant foul and composed free-throw shooting by Wiggins closed the door on the Suns’ resilient comeback attempt. Despite the loss, Phoenix dominated the glass, grabbing 18 offensive rebounds to Miami’s nine, led by Mark Williams’ 14-rebound, 18-point double-double. Devin Booker neared a triple-double for the Suns with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. However, Phoenix’s offense was inefficient overall, shooting 43.1% from the field and 29.2% from three-point range. Miami finished at 52.2% shooting and 34.2% from deep. Adebayo’s performance was a return to form after a recent scoring slump. He added nine rebounds and four assists to his 29 points, hitting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, including the two long jumpers that pushed the Miami lead to five points inside the final two minutes. The game’s total of 248 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 230.5. Miami, which had been a 1-point underdog at home according to National Statistical’s ELO system, defied the projection that gave Phoenix a 59.8% chance to win. The Heat host the Boston Celtics on Thursday. The Suns continue their road trip at Detroit on Thursday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Phoenix on Jan. 25.

Preview: Suns, Heat Set for Cross-Conference Clash in Miami MIAMI (Interstat) — Two teams trending in opposite directions will meet Tuesday night when the Phoenix Suns visit the Miami Heat at FTX Arena. The Suns (23-15) arrive having won seven of their last eight games, including a 112-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday. Forward Dillon Brooks has been a catalyst, averaging 21.4 points over his last 10 contests. He scored 27 points with seven rebounds and five assists against New York, complementing a 31-point, eight-assist night from All-Star guard Devin Booker. Phoenix’s recent surge has been marked by high-scoring performances, eclipsing 115 points in six of those eight games. Conversely, the Heat (20-18) have dropped two straight, both in lopsided fashion. They fell 123-99 at Indiana on Saturday and 122-94 at Minnesota last Tuesday. Guard Tyler Herro, a player to watch, led Miami with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the loss to the Pacers. Miami’s form has been inconsistent, mixing dominant home wins with puzzling road losses. They will look to leverage their home court, where they recently posted convincing victories over Denver and Indiana in late December. The matchup pits Phoenix’s potent offense against a Miami defense that has faltered recently, allowing an average of 121.5 points in its last two outings. Containing the Suns’ multi-pronged attack, led by Booker and the red-hot Brooks, will be Miami’s primary challenge. For the Heat, generating consistent offense beyond Herro will be critical. Center Bam Adebayo, who had 13 points and nine rebounds against Indiana, is a key interior component. This game is the first of a two-game season series. The teams will meet again in Phoenix on Jan. 25. Following this contest, Phoenix continues a six-game road trip in Detroit on Thursday. Miami remains home to host the Boston Celtics on Thursday.