The Miami Heat opened the third quarter with a 20-5 run to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 94-87 for their fourth straight win.
The Bucks had gone on a 21-6 run to lead 38-37 when James Johnson’s 3-pointer put the Heat ahead for good with 11:28 left in the third quarter. Justise Winslow made 2 3-pointers, both on passes from James Johnson, and Rodney McGruder made 2 3-pointers, both on passes from Winslow as they pulled away to a 57-43 lead with 5:30 left in the quarter.
The Bucks got within 82-81 on Tony Snell’s corner 3-pointer with 2:42 to play, but Josh Richardson answered with 2 free throws, and the Bucks got no closer.
During clutch time, the Heat outscored the Bucks 11-7. Richardson scored 4 of the Heat’s 11 on 1 for 2 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
James Johnson scored 11 points.
For the Bucks, Khris Middleton scored 18 points (9 in the fourth quarter), and Brook Lopez went 1 for 7 from 3.
The Bucks got 6 offensive rebounds, about 6 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Heat’s starters outscored the Bucks 34-16 in 16 minutes together.