Heat say they'll try to rally after 'embarrassing' 37-point loss to Cleveland in Game 3

MIAMI (AP) — Heat captain Bam Adebayo walked slowly to the postgame interview room Saturday, almost as if he was putting his thoughts together.

He summed everything up with the first two words he said upon arriving there.

“It's embarrassing," Adebayo said.

A season that started, as most do, with great expectations is on the brink of ending in Miami. The Heat — who had to win two road play-in games just to move from No. 10 to No. 8 in the Eastern Conference and actually get in the playoffs — endured their worst playoff loss ever Saturday, a 124-87 defeat to Cleveland.

The Cavs lead the series 3-0 and can finish a sweep in Miami on Monday night.

“This is our reality right now," Heat guard Tyler Herro said. “I told the guys it's not time to let go the rope. We’re going to play to the final buzzer, and whether that’s the next game, Game 5, 6, 7, another series after this, you just got to keep playing. That’s what we’re paid to do. And that’s who we are as an organization. We want to compete. We're not going out 4-0.”

He knows Miami faces overwhelming odds now. No team has successfully rallied from a 3-0 deficit in an NBA series, even though the Heat nearly blew such a lead two years ago in the East finals against Boston — having to win a Game 7 on the road to avoid making the wrong kind of NBA history.

“Yeah, but I don't think the expectation was high on us to start the series either,” Herro said. “We'll see what happens. I just know we need a better disposition throughout the entire game.”

It has been a season of ebbs and flows for Miami, a team that started the year with reasonable odds — +4000, according to BetMGM Sportsbook — of winning the NBA title. Jimmy Butler was still with the Heat, Jaime Jaquez Jr. was coming off an All-Rookie team season, and Terry Rozier was the starting point guard.

Butler got suspended three times and eventually got traded to Golden State. Jaquez and Rozier are out of the rotation. The Heat had a 10-game losing streak late in the season, finished the season 24th in points per game in a 30-team league, but fought their way into the playoffs anyway.

And now, this.

“Just worry about the next game Monday,” Adebayo said. “There's no point in looking at film at this point. Scratch this game and move on to Monday.”

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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra shouts instructions to his team during the first half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus during the first half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.

Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.

Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.

James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.

Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.

Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.

Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.

Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.

Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.

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

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)