Bucks set NBA record with 29 3-pointers, trounce Heat 144-97

MIAMI — On Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks endured their worst 3-point effort in just over a year.

On Tuesday, they set the NBA record for 3’s in a game.

Go figure.

The Bucks made a record 29 3-pointers in their 144-97 romp past the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on Tuesday night. They shot 29 for 51 from beyond the arc, two nights after going 7 for 38 in a loss to New York.

Milwaukee used 13 players and 12 made at least one 3-pointer — the only person who didn’t get onto that list being two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, in what will go down as nothing more than an interesting footnote in Bucks history. Khris Middleton had four 3’s on his way to 25 points, Jrue Holiday made six 3’s in his 24-point night and Donte DiVincenzo was 5-for-6 from deep to finish with 17 points.

Antetokounmpo had only nine points. Didn’t matter much. Everything else was stat night for Milwaukee.

The record-breaker was made by Sam Merrill, who got the 28th 3-pointer with 6:07 remaining, giving the Bucks a 131-86 lead.

The previous record for 3’s in a game was 27, set by the Houston Rockets against the Phoenix Suns on April 7, 2019. Milwaukee’s previous most was 22, against Sacramento on Nov. 4, 2018. The most previously allowed in a game by Miami was 24, on Feb. 5 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Tyler Herro scored 23 points for the Heat. Miami’s Jimmy Butler missed the game with a sprained right ankle.

It was the biggest road win in Bucks history, topping the 39-point margin at New York on April 10, 1987. The 47-point margin matched the second-worst loss in Heat history; they lost 138-91 to Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers in the eighth game of Miami’s first season.

TIP-INS

Bucks: Milwaukee had 16 3’s by halftime, the most of any half in team history. The Bucks had 14 in a half on four occasions (three first halves, one second). … The Bucks’ last three games have all been decided long before the final buzzer, with them beating Golden State by 39 on Christmas, then losing by 20 in New York on Sunday.

Heat: The 32-point halftime deficit was second worst in team history, topped by a 33-point hole on March 8, 1989 when Riley and the Lakers led the first-year Heat 76-43 at the break. … Herro had 20 points by halftime, the first time he’s done that in his young career.

WELCOME BACK

The Heat had about 100 people in the stands, all of them family and friends of players and employees. “I think it is a boost for the family, just to be able to have some normalcy and have a real opportunity to support their loved ones,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose wife Nikki was in the seats.

STREAK ENDS

Antetokounmpo’s streak of 108 consecutive regular-season games — and 132 games overall — with at least 10 points ended. It was the first time since Feb. 13, 2017 that he played, scored less than 10 points and the Bucks won anyway.

UP NEXT

The teams meet again Wednesday in Miami.