Key Takeaways:
- Tyler Herro led the Miami Heat with 29 points in their 106-103 NBA Cup win over the Milwaukee Bucks
- Erik Spoelstra secured his 800th win as Heat head coach, becoming the 17th to reach the mark in NBA history
- The Bucks suffered their first-ever NBA Cup group stage defeat and have lost six consecutive games, the last four without Giannis Antetokounmpo
Game Recap and Key Performances
Tyler Herro delivered an impressive 29-point performance as the Miami Heat edged out the Milwaukee Bucks 106-103 in a tightly contested NBA Cup group stage clash on Wednesday night in Miami. Bam Adebayo contributed with a double-double, recording 17 points and 11 rebounds. The result marked the 800th career victory for long-serving Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra.
Miami advanced to a 3-1 record in Cup play and strengthened their home dominance by moving to 9-1 in games at the Kaseya Center this season. Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, and Kel’el Ware each added 11 points for the Heat.
found a way 💪 pic.twitter.com/nh8cN9vDFF
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 27, 2025
NBA Cup Implications for Heat and Bucks
The Heat’s hopes of winning Group C now rest on the outcome of Milwaukee’s upcoming fixture against New York on Friday. Should the Bucks prevail, Miami will secure the group. However, if New York triumphs, the Heat will require additional help to book their place in the quarterfinals.
Milwaukee, the tournament’s defending champions, suffered their first loss in an NBA Cup group stage fixture, coming into the match with a 10-0 record in such games since the competition’s inception three seasons ago. The Bucks have now endured six consecutive defeats; notably, their last four have been played without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Bucks’ Struggles Continue amid Antetokounmpo Absence
Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 26 points, while Myles Turner provided 24 and Gary Trent Jr. finished with 15. Milwaukee, missing Giannis Antetokounmpo for a fourth straight contest due to a strained left adductor, have struggled in his absence. Despite being sidelined, Antetokounmpo participated in part of Wednesday’s shootaround and undertook a pregame workout, signalling potential progress towards his return.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who arrived at the game with an unbeaten 8-0 record in NBA Cup play, commented: “Even when he’s playing there’s a stretch where he’s not on the floor that we still have to master and we have not this year yet. So, I still think in the long run this stretch will be good for us.”
Coaching Milestone and Next Fixtures
Erik Spoelstra has become just the 17th coach in NBA history to notch 800 wins, and only the third to achieve this feat with a single franchise, joining Gregg Popovich (1,390 with San Antonio) and Jerry Sloan (1,127 with Utah).
The Milwaukee Bucks will seek to halt their skid as they visit New York on Friday for another NBA Cup clash. The Miami Heat are set to host Detroit on Saturday.
