Fred VanVleet erupts in Miami as Rockets win ninth straight game, extend Heat skid to 10
Veteran Rockets guard Fred VanVleet had by far his best game since returning from multiple right ankle injuries in Friday's 102-98 victory (box score) at Miami. Houston (46-25) won its ninth straight game and remains at No. 2 in the Western Conference standings, while the Heat (29-41) have lost 10 in a row are at No. 2 in the East.
Both streaks are the longest active ones of their kind in the NBA.
Houston trailed by eight at halftime but took over in the second half. VanVleet had 37 points and 3 steals while shooting 13-of-17 overall (76.5%), including a remarkable 9-of-11 on 3-pointers (81.8%).
Thompson had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals, and 5 assists while shooting 8-of-14 (57.1%), and the Rockets were +20 in his 35 minutes after returning from his own ankle injury.
On defense, Thompson helped limit Heat star Tyler Herro (who he got into an altercation with when the teams last met in December) to just 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%). Herro also committed a game-high 6 turnovers.
.@FredVanVleet with 8 QUICK points to start the 4th!
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 22, 2025
he also has NINE THREES 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yzaV4MYtvE
Veteran forward Andrew Wiggins led the Heat with 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting (76.9%), 8-of-9 from the free-throw line (88.9%), and 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%). That total included a career-high quarter with 20 in the second, which gave Miami its temporary buffer.
Fourth-year standouts Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun each had off nights for the Rockets, combining to score just 14 points on 7-of-28 shooting (25.0%). Yet, due in large part to VanVleet and Thompson, it didn't matter to the final result.
Led by Thompson and Sengun (10 rebounds), Houston out-rebounded Miami for the game, 46-34. The Rockets remain the NBA's top rebounding team for the 2024-25 season.
Second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson returned for the Rockets, as expected, from his six-game absence with a sprained left ankle.
March 21 Rockets-Heat Complete Highlights
March 21 Postgame Reaction and Interviews
First win against the Heat since 2019. 9 wins in a row. Back home Sunday to face Jokic and the Nuggets and the Rockets are going for 10 in a row.
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) March 22, 2025
Biggest game in four seasons up until this point . Toyota Center better be full and loud. pic.twitter.com/tlWnMzISAG
The Rockets were +20 in Amen Thompson's 35 minutes in Miami, easily the best of any player
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) March 22, 2025
HOU wins 9th in a row -- and more importantly creates some separation from the rest of the pack for the No. 2 seed (1.5 games over DEN, 2 games over LAL, 2.5 games over MEM).
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) March 22, 2025
Very, very important upcoming matchup w/ the Nuggets on Sunday.
Rockets held Tyler Herro to only 8 points tonight’s which ties for his lowest output of the season.
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) March 22, 2025
Completely shut him down.pic.twitter.com/usFx91K2zS
Amen Thompson: 18 points on 8-14 FG, 9 rebounds, 7 steals (!), 5 assists, a block, +20.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 22, 2025
Tyler Herro: 8 points on 3-11 FG, 6 turnovers. pic.twitter.com/QiKYYA8BPx
Tyler Herro was faceguarded by Amen Thompson all night, here’s Herro’s statline:
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) March 22, 2025
8 points
3/11
6 Turnovers (Amen has 7 steals) pic.twitter.com/nFSxru8pJy
The benefit of Fred VanVleet. Ime has said since day one VanVleet is like an extension of the coaching staff on the court. pic.twitter.com/H08ivs60rx
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) March 22, 2025
Amen normally goes with a normal two hand slam but you can tell it was more behind this dunk. pic.twitter.com/77T9CYWdE1
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) March 22, 2025
Amen Thompson just scored and Tyler Herro and did this LMAOOOOO pic.twitter.com/mhyyxGmyVa
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) March 22, 2025
#Rockets beat the Heat 102-98 for their 9TH STRAIGHT WIN
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) March 22, 2025
Fred VanVleet 🏀37 PTS🏀9 3'S🏀
FVV talked with @SportsVanessa after the @HoustonRockets WIN#Liftoffpic.twitter.com/4UPR3stC9u
Welcome Back Amen Thompson
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) March 22, 2025
🚀18 PTS🚀9 REB🚀7 STL🚀5 AST🚀#Rockets beat Miami 102-98 - that's 9 straight WINS@HoustonRockets I #Liftoffpic.twitter.com/0glBHJxFpt
What’s Next
Houston returns home for an important matchup versus the team directly behind them in the West standings, the Denver Nuggets (44-26). Sunday’s tipoff from Toyota Center is at 6:00 p.m. Central.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Fred VanVleet (37) erupts in Miami as Rockets win ninth straight game
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