Heat pull away late, top Trail Blazers without Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro

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The leading scorer had just been placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols. The point guard is out for personal reasons. The team leader got ejected just before halftime.

None of that derailed the Miami Heat.

Caleb Martin scored 26 points, Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the short-handed Heat cranked up the defense in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-92 on Wednesday night.

"I bet that was my boss' favorite fourth quarter of the season," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Oh, that's for certain: Heat President Pat Riley surely was loving this.

Starting with the final minute of the third quarter, Miami forced Portland into 5-of-26 shooting (19%) to end the game, including misses on each of the Trail Blazers' final 12 tries from 3-point range.

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Portland Trail Blazers forward Trendon Watford, right, defends Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said the Heat wore Portland down, "which is a compliment to them."

"You’ve got to give them credit," Billups said. "But I was happy with how hard we played in the game, the entire game."

Max Strus scored 15 points for Miami, including a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining that put the Heat up 10. Dewayne Dedmon scored 12 for the Heat, who started the game without Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro — then lost Jimmy Butler to a first-half ejection.

Lowry missed the game for personal reasons. Herro entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Wednesday.

Anfernee Simons scored 27 points,