Lillard scores 37 points and Giannis-less Bucks hold off Heat 106-103 to move to 3-0 in Cup play

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson, left, and forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) loses control of the ball as Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, behind, defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) drives to the basket during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches from the sideline during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Miami Heat guard Alec Burks (18) defends Milwaukee Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp, right, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) shoots as Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (42) defends during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Milwaukee Bucks guard Delon Wright (55) shoots over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) shoots over Miami Heat guard Alec Burks (18) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, center, sits next to guard Damian Lillard, left, during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By Tim Reynolds

MIAMI (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 37 points and handed out 12 assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks wasted a 22-point second-half lead before beating the Miami Heat 106-103 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.

Brook Lopez scored 13 points and Bobby Portis had 11 for the Bucks, who have won five in a row and moved back to the .500 mark — 9-9 — for the first time since they were 1-1.

The Bucks (3-0 in Cup play) also moved a half-game ahead of Detroit (2-0) in the East Group B standings.

Jimmy Butler scored 23 points for Miami, which got 18 from Tyler Herro, 17 from Terry Rozier and 16 from Bam Adebayo. The Heat tied the game at 96-96 on a layup by Butler and got within one point on three later occasions, but never led.

The Heat — who were outscored 60-30 from 3-point range — fell to 1-2 in Cup play.

The Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, a late pregame scratch because of swelling in his left knee.

Takeaways

Bucks: Lillard finished with at least 35 points and 10 assists for the 30th time, pulling into a tie with Allen Iverson for ninth-most in NBA regular season history. Oscar Robertson has the record with 121.

Heat: Miami has faced deficits of 22 points or more in two of seven home games this season. It happened six times in 41 home games last season.

Key moment

AJ Green made back-to-back 3-pointers for Milwaukee in the final minutes, both of them coming immediately after Miami scored to get within one. His late 3s gave Milwaukee leads of 101-97 and 104-100.

Key stat

Lillard’s 37 points were the second most by a Bucks player against Miami in regular-season play. Mo Williams scored 38 on Feb. 3, 2007.

Up next

Bucks: Host Washington on Saturday.

Heat: Visit Charlotte on Wednesday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Tim Reynolds

NBA writer