NBA: Tyler Herro hits buzzer-beater to lift Heat over Jazz

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FILE– Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat controls the ball during the second half against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on December 15, 2022 in Houston, Texas.

FILE–Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

Tyler Herro hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from one foot to lift the Miami Heat to a thrilling 126-123 victory over the host Utah Jazz on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

Herro drove the length of the court and put up the lopsided game-winner after Utah’s Lauri Markkanen tied the game with three free throws with 6.1 seconds left.

Bam Adebayo led all scorers with 32 points, adding eight rebounds, and Herro finished with 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists to help the Heat finish the calendar year in style.

Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson each hit three free throws in the final 14 seconds to tie the game. But Miami was shut out despite not having a timeout to set up the final play.

Markkanen led the Jazz with 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Clarkson scored 22 points in Utah’s fourth straight loss.

Tyler Hero. CLUTCH. Heat wins.#TissotBuzzerBeater | #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/YSFXtJzh4v

— NBA (@NBA) January 1, 2023

The loss, which came the night after the Kings nipped the Jazz by one point in Sacramento, dropped Utah’s record to 19-20, marking the first time the rebuilding team has dipped below .500 all season.

Victor Oladipo added 23 points, five rebounds and five assists to boost Miami. He hit a key 3-pointer and made a free throw with 12 seconds remaining to help the Heat earn the second back-to-back night win for both teams.

Miami exploded for 69 points in the first half, going up by 10 points and taking a six-point halftime lead.

Adebayo hit a pair of free throws and then assisted on Herro’s bucket to give the Heat a 79-71 lead early in the third quarter.

Utah responded with a 10-0 run to go up 81-79 and eventually went up 98-91 at the end of the third after a Malik Beasley 3-pointer.

Miami used an 8-0 spurt to take a 99-98 lead on Adebayo’s shot with 10:40 remaining.

The teams took turns playing hot potato with the lead after that, with Clarkson tying the score at 109-109 after six quick lead changes.

Herro and Adebayo combined to score five straight for Miami, and then Adebayo scored four straight as the Heat took a 118-111 lead with 3:03 left before Utah rallied.