PHOENIX (AP) — Bam Adebayo scored 22 points, Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 and the Miami Heat beat the short-handed Phoenix Suns 111-102 on Sunday night.
The Heat had a short turnaround after blowing out Utah 147-116 on Saturday night, but took advantage of Phoenix playing without two key players who suffered injuries in Friday night in a 110-103 loss at Atlanta.
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Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) shields the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams reacts (15) after being fouled by Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) drives between Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks, top, and guard Grayson Allen, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro, center left, blocks a shot by Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., center right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner (15) and Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) trade fouls during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Devin Booker, a four-time All-Star, rolled his right ankle in third quarter against the Hawks and will be re-evaluated in a week. Jalen Green came out after feeling pain in his second game back after missing 33 with a hamstring strain.
The Suns labored without Booker's team-leading 25.4 points per game, shooting 37% and 7 of 35 from 3. Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 26 points and Grayson Allen added 18 despite shooting 4 of 18 from the floor, including 1 of 11 from 3.
The NBA's fourth-highest scoring team, Miami led by five after three quarters and pushed it to 101-83 midway through the fourth on their way to finishing a five-game trip 3-2. Norman Powell added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Miami took advantage of several Phoenix defensive breakdowns in the first quarter, using a 16-2 run to build a 12-point lead.
The Suns briefly clawed their way into the lead as both teams struggled shooting in the second quarter, but the Heat used a short run to lead 58-48 at halftime.
Miami shot 3 of 17 from 3 in the first half and the Suns were even worse, going 2 for 19.
The third quarter played out similar to the second: the Suns fought back, the Heat went on a late run. Isaiah Livers hit a 3-pointer just inside the midcourt line at the buzzer to pull Phoenix to 82-77 heading to the fourth.
Heat: Host Orlando on Wednesday night.
Suns: Host Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) shields the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams reacts (15) after being fouled by Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) drives between Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks, top, and guard Grayson Allen, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro, center left, blocks a shot by Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., center right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner (15) and Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) trade fouls during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks' “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday.
Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold — an eight-year veteran playing for his fifth team — the Seahawks (16-3) reached the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history and first in 11 years. Seattle lost that most recent appearance to New England, its opponent in two weeks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
With Los Angeles (14-6) facing fourth-and-4 at the Seattle 6 with 4:59 remaining, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it and Matthew Stafford's pass was broken up in the end zone by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams didn't get the ball back until there were 25 seconds left, and Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds near midfield on the final play.
Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams were undone by critical errors, including a muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the third quarter. On the next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown and a 24-13 lead.
Darnold, who flopped in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings, played through an oblique injury and completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 yards receiving — the second-most in a playoff game in franchise history — and a touchdown on 10 catches.
“It’s amazing,” Darnold said. “To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, though, with this coaching staff, that’s why it means the world to me.”
The Seahawks led 31-20 late in the third quarter on Darnold's 13-yard TD pass to Cooper Kupp, but the Rams got back into the game when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down.
On the next play, Stafford threw at Woolen again, and Nacua beat him in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.
The Rams forced a punt on Seattle's next possession and went on a 14-play, 84-yard drive that came up empty thanks to Witherspoon's pass breakup.
Seattle stayed aggressive on its final possession, with Darnold throwing for three first downs to run out most of the clock.
Davante Adams and Kyren Williams had receiving TDs for the Rams, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for a score for the Seahawks.
Darnold set the tone with his first completion of the game, a 51-yarder to Rashid Shaheed. Four plays later, Walker ran 2 yards for a TD to make it 7-0.
The Rams settled for field goals by Harrison Mevis on their next two possessions. With Los Angeles trailing 10-6, Stafford led a 12-play, 87-yard drive and connected with a wide-open Williams for a 9-yard score.
Los Angeles forced a three-and-out late in the second quarter, but after two straight incompletions by Stafford, the Rams punted the ball back, and it took Darnold just 34 seconds to put the Seahawks ahead for good.
Smith-Njigba caught a deep ball from Darnold, absorbed a big hit by Kam Curl and held on for a 42-yard gain. Four plays later, Darnold and Smith-Njigba hooked up for a 14-yard TD that made it 17-13 heading into halftime.
“I told my team, I’m going to do whatever it takes. Whatever y’all ask of me, I’m gonna get it done, whatever that might be,” said Smith-Njigba, the NFL's leading receiver in the regular season. “And that’s what you saw today. You just saw grit, determination, you saw passion out there and you saw a group, a collective, going out there and getting the job done.”
Rams: WR Jordan Whittington (chest) left in the third quarter. Defensive end Kobie Turner (cramps) also exited in the third.
Seahawks: LB Drake Thomas (shoulder) left in the fourth quarter. FB Brady Russell (hand) was injured in the second half and did not return.
Rams: Stafford turns 38 next month and has to wonder if this was his last, best chance at a second Super Bowl title.
Seahawks: Seek their second Super Bowl title after winning it all in the 2013 season with coach Pete Carroll and the “Legion of Boom” defense.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) leaps over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant (14) after a catch during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) slides under Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) makes a touchdown catch past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Seattle Seahawks' Dareke Young (83) celebrates after recovering a fumble by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith during a punt return during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
