Miami Heat’s late offensive drought in Milwaukee fuels Bucks’ 128-117 comeback victory Tuesday night

Game context and final score

The Miami Heat let a competitive road game slip away in the final minutes Tuesday, February 24, falling 128-117 to the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. The result tightened an already crowded Eastern Conference middle tier and underscored how a few late possessions can swing outcomes between teams fighting to stabilize their positioning.

How Milwaukee built the margin

Milwaukee’s closing execution was the difference. The Bucks were powered by Kevin Porter Jr., who finished with 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and supplied the key production during the final stretch as Milwaukee turned a close game into a double-digit win. Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis added 21 points apiece, giving Milwaukee a three-pronged scoring base that held up when the pace increased late.

The Bucks also received meaningful minutes from their bench group, including contributions that helped maintain scoring pressure across multiple lineup combinations. That depth mattered when the game reached its deciding phase, with Milwaukee able to generate stops and quickly convert in transition and early offense.

Miami’s strong stretches—and the decisive cold spell

Miami had enough offense for much of the night to stay within striking distance. Norman Powell led the Heat with 26 points and repeatedly created contact to reach the free-throw line, helping Miami answer Milwaukee’s runs. Andrew Wiggins also provided two-way value, and Miami’s ability to string together stops for short stretches allowed it to contest the game deep into the fourth quarter.

The turning point came late: Miami did not make a field goal for more than six minutes in the fourth quarter, a drought that flipped leverage to the home side. Milwaukee’s defensive possessions during that sequence were paired with timely shot-making, including a four-point play by Porter Jr. that helped ignite a closing run and pushed the Bucks in front with control of tempo and matchups.

What the numbers say about the finish

• Milwaukee produced its most efficient minutes late, pairing perimeter shot creation with paint finishes and free throws to separate.

• Miami’s late-game offense stalled into missed jumpers and empty possessions, limiting the Heat’s ability to trade baskets once Milwaukee’s lead expanded.

• With both teams leaning on guard play in high-usage moments, Milwaukee’s primary ballhandler delivered the most decisive closing sequence.

Final score: Bucks 128, Heat 117 (Feb. 24, 2026).

What comes next

For Miami, the performance offered two clear takeaways: the offense can hold up against an aggressive opponent when shot creation is balanced, but the margin for error narrows sharply when the late-game execution breaks down. Milwaukee, meanwhile, banked a needed win by finishing with composure, turning a close contest into a statement of late-game shot-making and defensive pressure.