nba games today Miami Heat regain victories at Portland expense

The Miami Heat beat the Portland Trail Blazers 115/109 at dawn Thursday in the NBA.

The Heat won twice in a row, despite Jimmy Butler’s injury absence and Kelly Lowry’s first half.

Max Strass scored 25 points, including seven three-pointers, six rebounds and five assists in his first four games after missing four games due to protocols to combat the Corona pandemic.

Tyler Hero scored 16 points for Miami, while Inverney Simmons topped Portland scoring list with 28 points, including five three-pointers.

The Utah Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 115/109 for their 10th straight away win.

Rudy Jay scored 18 points and Donovan Mitchell added 17 for the Jazz, who have not lost out since November 7.

Nikola Jokic scored 26 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists for the Nuggets, and Monty Morris and Will Barton scored 20 points each.

In the rest of the game, Philadelphia beat the Orlando Magic 116/106, the Houston Rockets beat the Washington Wizards 114/111 and the Charlotte Hornets over the Detroit Pistons 140/111.

The Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers 129/121, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Golden State Warriors 99/82 and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Boston Celtics 99/97.

Minnesota also beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 98/90 and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117/111 and the Atlanta Hawks over the Sacramento Kings 108/102.