Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) shoots the ball around Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) and forward Dwight Powell (7) during the first half of a game on Nov. 24, 2025, at Kaseya Center in Miami.
askowronski@miamiherald.com
Five takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 106-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks (6-13) on Monday night at Kaseya Center to extend its winning streak to five games and begin a four-game homestand. The Heat (12-6) continues the homestand with a pivotal NBA Cup game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday:
There was excitement surrounding Monday’s game because Tyler Herro returned to make his season debut, but the Heat was just happy to escape the night against the struggling Mavericks with a win on the back end of a back-to-back set.
After defeating the 76ers in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, Monday marked the second night of a back-to-back and the third game in four days for the Heat.
It certainly seemed like that, too, as the Heat started slow and almost blew a second-half double-digit lead.
While the Heat entered Monday with the NBA’s highest-scoring offense and playing at the league’s fastest pace this season, Miami began the contest by missing its first seven field goal attempts on the way to shooting just 8 of 26 (30.8 percent) from the field and 1 of 9 (11.1 percent) from three-point range in the first quarter. Miami scored just 20 points in the opening period for its lowest scoring first quarter of the season.
But the Heat found a rhythm in the second quarter, scoring 32 points in the period to enter halftime with a 52-44 advantage despite shooting just 42.6 percent from the field and 2 of 17 (11.8 percent) from three-point range in the first half.
The Heat then built its lead up to 13 points in the third quarter before entering the fourth quarter ahead by eight.
The Mavericks pushed back, though, opening the fourth quarter on a 24-16 run to tie the score at 96 with 4:33 to play.
The Mavericks then found themselves in position to take their first lead since the second quarter, with possession of the ball and the score tied at 102 with 49.7 seconds to play.
But after a Dallas timeout, Mavericks forward P.J. Washington threw the inbounds pass right at Heat center Bam Adebayo for a turnover.
Adebayo’s steal then turned into a transition opportunity that the Heat capitalized on with Herro hitting a 10-foot floater to put Miami ahead by two points with 42.1 seconds remaining in his first game back from offseason surgery.
The Mavericks had another opportunity to tie or take the lead, but Washington missed a corner three-pointer with 27.7 seconds to play.
With Heat guard Pelle Larsson coming away with the defensive rebound with 22.9 seconds left, the Mavericks were forced to foul.
But there was still some late-game drama, as the Heat was forced to inbound the ball since it still was not in the penalty.
Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. then made what could have been a costly mistake, throwing the inbounds pass away for a turnover with 18.4 seconds to play.
With another opportunity to tie or pull ahead, Washington missed another three-pointer for the Mavericks with 5.5 seconds left.
The Mavericks were forced to foul Adebayo after he grabbed the defensive rebound with 3.1 seconds remaining. Adebayo made both free throws to put the Heat ahead by four points and seal the win.
The Heat won despite shooting just 5 of 27 (18.5 percent) from three-point range.
Herro scored a team-high 24 points for the Heat in his first game of the season, while also recording seven rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes.
Heat second-year center Kel’el Ware added 20 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks.
Adebayo contributed 17 points, six rebounds, one steal and two blocks.
Washington scored a game-high 27 points for the Mavericks.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) shoots the ball around Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) and forward Dwight Powell (7) during the first half of a game on Nov. 24, 2025, at Kaseya Center in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
It took a while for Herro to get going in his season debut. But once Herro did get going, he didn’t miss many shots.
Herro was immediately re-inserted into the Heat’s starting lineup in place of the sidelined Powell, beginning Monday’s game alongside Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.
Herro started slow, missing his first shots of the game.
But Herro finally got on the board, banking in a push shot for his first points of the night with 4:48 left in the second quarter.
Herro then found a rhythm, making his final four shots of the first half after his 0-of-4 start to total eight points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and 0-of-2 shooting from three-point range, six rebounds and three steals in 15 first-half minutes.
Herro went on to make 12 of his final 14 shots of the game, finishing his return with a team-high 24 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field and 0-of-2 shooting on threes, seven rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes.
While some rust is expected for Herro in his first few games back, his return adds another talented scorer to the Heat’s already explosive offense.
Herro, 25 finished last regular season as the Heat’s leading scorer on the way to being selected for his first NBA All-Star Game. He averaged career highs in points (23.9 points per game) and assists (5.5 per game) while shooting a career-best 47.2 percent from the field last regular season.
Herro, who is in his seventh NBA season after being drafted by the Heat with the 13th overall pick in 2019, has developed into one of the most skilled scorers in franchise history. He’s already the Heat’s sixth all-time leading scorer in franchise history with 6,987 points and also ranks second in franchise history with 984 made three-pointers.
With Herro back, the next question for the Heat is what will the starting lineup and rotation look like when Jovic, Powell and Wiggins return?
Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) high-fives guard Pelle Larsson (9) with teammates Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) and Tyler Herro (14) during the second half of a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. The Miami Heat won 106-102. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Ware continued the most impressive stretch of his young NBA career with another dominant double-double.
It didn’t take Ware long to get that double-double either, as he had it by halftime on Monday. He recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the first half.
Ware closed the win with 20 points and 18 rebounds (six offensive rebounds) and three blocks in 34 minutes. He also posted a positive plus/minus of plus 15 in the four-point victory.
Ware, 21, has now grabbed double-digit rebounds in nine straight games and has seven double-double stat lines during that stretch.
Ware entered Monday averaging 14.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 56% from the field and 5 of 13 (38.5%) from three-point range during the first eight games of this span.
With the help of this recent stretch, Ware has been among the NBA’s best rebounders this season. Among the 320 players who have played in at least 10 games, Ware entered Monday averaging the second-most rebounds per 36 minutes in the league this season at 15.6 behind only 76ers center Andre Drummond (15.7).
Ware, who was taken by the Heat with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft, struggled with game-to-game consistency as a rookie last season. But the 7-footer has been one of Miami’s most consistent players over the last nine games.
Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) fouls Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the second half of a game on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. The Miami Heat won 106-102. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
The Heat is not overly concerned about its three injured rotation players.
While Powell missed his first game with a strained left groin, Jovic and Wiggins have missed multiple games with their injuries. Jovic was held out for the fourth straight game because of right hip impingement and Wiggins was unavailable for the third straight game because of a left hip flexor strain.
All three players have been labeled by the Heat as day-to-day.
“Right now with us, knock on wood, what we’re dealing with right now, the three guys, is manageable right now,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday. “So we’ll just see where that is. They’re all day-to-day, which I’m super grateful for.”
As for Powell’s issue, he initially tweaked the groin early in Friday’s win over the Bulls in Chicago and briefly exited the contest with what the Heat labeled as a left groin strain before returning to finish that game. He was then listed as probable for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia with what the Heat labeled as left hip irritation before playing and scoring a game-high 32 points in 29 minutes during the Heat’s victory over the 76ers.
So, was there a setback for Powell after Sunday’s win in Philadelphia that led to him missing Monday’s game against the Mavericks?
“No, I think the bigger thing was that it was a back-to-back,” Spoelstra said when asked that question. “We’ll treat him day-to-day. I don’t have a timeline on it, but the level of concern is not super high.”
Along with missing Jovic, Powell and Wiggins, the Heat was also without Vlad Goldin (G League) and Terry Rozier (not with team) on Monday.
The Mavericks were also short-handed, missing Anthony Davis (left calf strain), Dante Exum (right knee injury management), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) and Dereck Lively II (right foot injury management) against the Heat.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) tries to take the ball from Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) while guarded by Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of a game on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
With three Heat rotation players still out, second-year forward Keshad Johnson continues to play extended minutes.
Johnson was part of a Heat bench rotation that also included Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dru Smith and Simone Fontecchio.
After beginning the season out of the rotation and not logging double-digit minutes in any of the first 15 games this season, Johnson has now played double-digit minutes in three straight games for the short-handed Heat..
Johnson finished Monday’s win with seven points and three rebounds in 18 minutes..
Johnson’s first two baskets were especially impressive, scoring his first points of the night on a well-timed cut that turned into an and-one layup and then throwing down a ferocious dunk in semi-transition.
Johnson, who went undrafted last year, has totaled 25 points, 15 rebounds (seven offensive rebounds), one steal and three blocks in 67 during this three-game stretch of extended playing time. He has also posted a plus/minus of plus 19 during this span.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 10:14 PM.
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Anthony Chiang
Miami Herald
Anthony Chiang covers the Miami Heat for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and was born and raised in Miami.
