Key Takeaways:
- Miami matched their franchise record with 24 three-pointers during Monday night’s 140-123 triumph against the Los Angeles Clippers
- A decisive 30-2 surge in the second quarter enabled the Heat to seize full control after trailing early
- Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 36 points, while their 5-16 record marks their worst 21-game start since the 2010-11 campaign
Rapid Momentum Shift: Miami’s Second Quarter Run
In front of their home supporters on Monday night, the Miami Heat overturned a brief early deficit by producing an electrifying 30-2 scoring stretch in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers. Norman Powell tallied 11 points during this spell as Miami converted 9 of 12 attempts while the Clippers failed to score from the field, missing all 11 of their shots.
Bam Adebayo delivered a standout performance, recording 27 points and 14 rebounds in 32 minutes. Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins both chipped in with 22 points for Miami, which ultimately finished with 24 made three-pointers, equalling the franchise’s all-time single-game record.
Big HEAT W! pic.twitter.com/HsQJeZedK2
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 2, 2025
Game Flow and Key Statistics
The Heat ramped up their offensive effort to start the second half, launching a 12-0 run in the first 2:02 of the third quarter fuelled entirely by three-point shots. Adebayo hit two of those, and Miami’s lead ballooned to 32 points, rendering the result a near-formality from that stage onward.
Clippers’ Struggles Continue Despite Leonard’s Efforts
Kawhi Leonard attempted to rally the Clippers in the final period, registering 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and helping reduce the deficit to just 12 with two minutes left. However, Miami quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback by responding with nine unanswered points, including a three-point play from Herro and consecutive threes from Powell and Wiggins, effectively securing the outcome.
Ivica Zubac finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, while James Harden was restricted to 11 points in 20 minutes and remained sidelined for the final 22 minutes and 34 seconds. The Clippers were outscored by 39 points while Harden was on the floor.
Historical Context and Next Fixtures
For Miami, this outing marked the fifth time this campaign they have surpassed 140 points, a notable figure given that, across their first 37 seasons, they only reached that tally on eight occasions. On the other hand, the defeat drops the Clippers to 5-16 on the season – their worst 21-game opening since the 2010-11 side began 4-17, following a 2-14 run after a promising 3-2 start.
The Clippers are scheduled to visit Atlanta on Wednesday, while the Heat will continue their road trip by taking on Dallas the same night.
