Adebayo's 35 points power Heat past Clippers 117-116 in overtime

The Miami Heat beat the LA Clippers 117-116 after overtime on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, in front of 17,504 spectators. Bam Adebayo carried the Heat with 35 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in 41 minutes. The game tilted towards the Clippers for long spells. They led by 20 points in the second quarter.

The Clippers played without four players ruled out before the game: Brandon Ingram (Achilles tendon), Bradley Beal (knee), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot) and Jordan Miller (shoulder). The Heat move to 3-5 and sit ninth in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers fall to 1-7, 13th in the West. The final margin, one point, sums up a night of 8 lead changes and 5 ties.

Heat open 33-24, Clippers hit back with a 43-19 quarter

The first quarter belonged to the Heat, who won it 33-24. That nine-point lead, reached with 46.2 seconds left in the period, would remain their biggest of the night.

The second quarter turned everything around. With 11 minutes 26 seconds left in the period, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run that took them from 24-33 to 34-33. Miami regained the lead at 35-34, then conceded a 16-0 run from 8 minutes 51 seconds, to 35-50. With 3 minutes 12 seconds to halftime, the Clippers led 63-43, their biggest margin. They won the period 43-19 and went into the locker room fifteen points up, 67-52.

Two unanswered runs, then overtime won 10-9

Miami chipped away after the break. The Heat won the third quarter 26-20 but still trailed 78-87 going into the final period. The comeback came via an 8-0 run that began with 17.2 seconds left in the period and carried into the start of the fourth, from 76-87 to 84-87. The Clippers held on: with 4 minutes 25 seconds remaining, they led 101-91.

Miami answered with a 9-0 run to close to 100-101. The Heat won the fourth quarter 29-20 and forced overtime at 107-107. It came down to one point: Miami won the extra period 10-9 and closed out the game at 117-116.

Miami's key contributors

Adebayo was the Heat's main weapon: 35 points on 14 of 20 shooting, including 1 of 3 from three-point range, and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line. He finished at +12. Klay Thompson added 30 points on 11 of 22, including 8 of 17 from beyond the arc. His +21 was the best differential of the game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo piled up 27 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks, despite making 8 of 20 shots. He made up for it at the line, going 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. Davion Mitchell played 43 minutes for 11 points, 10 assists and 4 steals. Bobby Portis grabbed 10 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.

As a team, Miami won the areas that generate shots: 50 rebounds to 47, including 12 offensive to 6, and 12 turnovers to 20. The Heat took 100 shots to the Clippers' 90. They scored 54 points in the paint to 40 and made 21 of 26 free throws, against 14 of 20 for their opponents. The Clippers conceded 23 points off their turnovers, Miami 13.

Clippers shoot better, but turn it over 20 times

Darius Garland finished as the Clippers' top scorer with 26 points on 10 of 14 shooting, including 4 of 6 from three-point range, and 7 assists. He also lost 6 turnovers and finished at -16. Rui Hachimura added 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, but on 7 of 18 shooting. Brook Lopez scored 20 points on 8 of 11, and Derrick Jones Jr. contributed 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Off the bench, Keaton Wagler scored 11 points in 16 minutes, with 3 of 4 from three-point range and a differential of +15. Over the whole game, the Clippers shot better: 48% to 43%, and 37% from distance to 25%. The Clippers also turned the ball over 20 times and made 14 of 20 free throws. They went on to lose the last three periods.

Three takeaways

Adebayo was the most efficient of the trio. His 35 points came on 14 of 20 shooting, while Antetokounmpo managed 8 of 20 and Thompson 11 of 22. He lost just one turnover in 41 minutes.

Thompson carried the outside shooting almost alone. He made 8 of the Heat's 10 three-pointers. The rest of the team converted only two.

Free throws made up for the three-pointers. Both teams made 43 field goals each. The Clippers made six more three-pointers, Miami seven more free throws. The balance, one point in the Heat's favour, is the final margin.

The SNA view

Miami did not win on shooting accuracy: 43% from the field, 25% from three and a second quarter lost 19-43. The Heat won by multiplying possessions, then finishing them near the rim or at the line. Miami had 12 offensive rebounds to 6 and eight fewer turnovers. They took ten more shots. The reliance on the trio remains stark: behind Adebayo, Thompson and Antetokounmpo, no Heat player scored more than 11 points. On the Clippers' side, the absences of Ingram and Beal reduce their options, but they do not explain 20 turnovers in a game decided by one point.

What's next

Miami, at 3-5 and ninth in the Eastern Conference, lead the regular-season series 1-0 against the Clippers. The Heat travel to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday 5 November. The Clippers, at 1-7 and 13th in the Western Conference, host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday 8 November.