Key Takeaways:
- Tyler Herro scored 24 points in his first appearance of the season following ankle surgery
- Kel’el Ware contributed 20 points and 18 rebounds as Miami survived a late rally from Dallas
- Mavericks centre Anthony Davis missed his 14th consecutive game but has been upgraded to doubtful before Friday’s fixture against the Lakers
Match Overview
Tyler Herro made a triumphant return to the court by scoring 24 points in his season debut after recovering from ankle surgery, as the Miami Heat edged out the Dallas Mavericks 106-102 on Monday night. Kel’el Ware provided a dominant presence inside, registering 20 points and pulling down 18 rebounds. Miami, despite being held to nearly 20 points below its usual scoring average, improved its home record to 8-1.
Another HEAT home W! pic.twitter.com/9915NXAKRl
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 25, 2025
Bam Adebayo added 17 points for the Heat, who had to contend with the absence of top scorer Norman Powell (groin), as well as Andrew Wiggins (hip) and Nikola Jovic (hip) – all unavailable for this contest. Miami was also playing its third game in four nights.
Late Drama in Miami
Dallas mounted a comeback after trailing by as many as 13 points, with P.J. Washington leading the Mavericks with 27 points. Max Christie chipped in 15 points, Klay Thompson scored 13, and both Cooper Flagg and Brandon Williams finished with 12 points apiece.
The game saw a thrilling conclusion as Cooper Flagg tied it at 102-102 by making two free throws with 1:04 remaining. On the next defensive possession, Dallas forced a stop, but with under a minute left, Bam Adebayo intercepted the inbounds pass and set up Herro for the go-ahead basket with 41.2 seconds on the clock. The Heat then held on to secure the win.
Team News and Injury Updates
The Mavericks were once again without centre Anthony Davis, who missed his 14th straight match due to a strained left calf. However, his status was upgraded to ‘doubtful’ earlier in the day, raising hopes for a return soon. Dallas does not play again until Friday, when they meet Davis’ former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in an NBA Cup fixture.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd commented: “I think he continues to get better. He’s working to get back,” while adding, “We anticipate him at practice this week. I think any time with a calf strain you have to be cautious. But he’s worked extremely hard and the next step is practice Wednesday, so we’ll see what happens.”
Scoring Leaders
| Miami Heat | Points | Dallas Mavericks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Herro | 24 | P.J. Washington | 27 |
| Kel’el Ware | 20 | Max Christie | 15 |
| Bam Adebayo | 17 | Klay Thompson | 13 |
Looking Ahead
- The Mavericks will next be in action on Friday, facing the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA Cup game
- The Miami Heat are set to host Milwaukee in their NBA Cup fixture on Wednesday
