Butler scores 36, Robinson adds 26 and Heat top Nets 122-115 to win 7th straight
MIAMI (AP) After starting 1-4, things looked bleak for the Miami Heat. Now that stretch seems almost forgotten.
Jimmy Butler scored 18 of his 36 points in the third quarter, and the Heat extended the NBA’s current longest winning streak to seven games by beating the Brooklyn Nets 122-115 on Thursday night.
Duncan Robinson added 26 for the Heat, who have won seven straight for the first time since Dec. 30, 2017-Jan. 14, 2018. Bam Adebayo scored 20 for Miami, which has won all seven of those games by single digits - and is one of only three teams without a double-digit win this season. Charlotte and Portland are the others.
“We're getting a little more organized, more comfortable,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And that allows you to be more confident.”
Mikal Bridges and Lonnie Walker IV each scored 23 for Brooklyn, which had won its last five games against Miami. Nic Claxton was 7 for 7 from the field and scored 16 for the Nets, and Cam Johnson added 16 as well.
Walker got his points in 26 minutes off the bench.
“He can score the ball,” Johnson said. “He's been in attack mode. He's been locked in.”
Miami lost to Brooklyn on Nov. 1 to fall to 1-4, the worst five-game start in Spoelstra’s 16 seasons. The Heat haven’t lost since and the 8-4 record ties for the fourth-best 12-game start under Spoelstra; the team opened 9-3 on three occasions in that span.
Butler’s 18-point third quarter tied his best for any regular-season quarter in a Heat uniform, done on two other occasions. He’s also had quarters of 18, 21 and 22 in playoff games for Miami.
For the Heat, it was part of a nine-game, 18-day stretch where they’ll play in eight different arenas. The only one they’ll visit twice in that span is the United Center in Chicago, where they’ll open a two-game set against the Bulls on Saturday night to begin a five-game trip.
“It was fun to play at home for once,” Butler said.
Johnson picked up his fourth foul with 3:40 left in the first half, making him the 12th player in the league this season to have that many before intermission - and the second Nets player to do so in as many games, after Claxton did it against Orlando on Tuesday. Johnson’s fourth was an offensive foul, drawn by Kevin Love.
It sent him to the bench. It sent the Heat off and running.
They finished the half on a 14-0 run, the last 12 of those coming following Love taking the charge against Johnson, and went into the break up 60-52. The Nets were 0 for 7 with three turnovers in that stretch, the last of those giveaways coming when Butler stripped Royce O’Neale and set up Haywood Highsmith for a layup 4 seconds before the buzzer.
Miami kept the lead for the entirety of the second half.
“Their little run going into halftime ... you can't have that momentum shift going into halftime,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “That's something that we need to learn about, finishing the half and having the momentum going in your favor.”
UP NEXT
Nets: Host Philadelphia on Sunday.
Heat: Visit Chicago on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nic Claxton vs. Bam Adebayo (Spencer Dinwiddie gains possession) | |||
11:49 | Spencer Dinwiddie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:30 | Bam Adebayo misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:26 | Cameron Johnson defensive rebound | |||
11:05 | Jimmy Butler blocks Dorian Finney-Smith's two point floating jump shot | |||
11:05 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
11:05 | Nets turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
10:52 | Jimmy Butler misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:49 | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | |||
10:39 | Cameron Johnson misses two point jump shot | |||
10:36 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
10:33 | Kyle Lowry misses two point running layup | |||
10:29 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point layup (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 2-0 | |
10:08 | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | |||
10:08 | Jimmy Butler offensive rebound | |||
9:56 | Cameron Johnson shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
9:56 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-1 | |
9:56 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-2 | |
9:41 | Haywood Highsmith shooting foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | |||
9:41 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:41 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
9:41 | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 3-2 | |
9:22 | Jimmy Butler misses three point jump shot | |||
9:19 | Cameron Johnson defensive rebound | |||
9:06 | Nic Claxton turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Lowry steals) | |||
8:59 | Bam Adebayo misses two point jump shot | |||
8:56 | Jimmy Butler offensive rebound | |||
8:53 | Bam Adebayo misses two point jump shot | |||
8:49 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 5-2 | |
8:27 | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point pullup jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 5-5 | |
8:06 | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 8-5 | |
7:57 | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | |||
7:53 | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | |||
7:46 | Haywood Highsmith shooting foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | |||
7:46 | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-5 | |
7:46 | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-5 | |
7:36 | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:33 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
7:24 | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:18 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Cameron Johnson personal foul (Duncan Robinson draws the foul) | |||
6:57 | Kyle Lowry misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:55 | Kyle Lowry offensive rebound | |||
6:48 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point jump shot | 10-7 | |
6:35 | Kyle Lowry shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | |||
6:35 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
6:35 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 11-7 | |
6:35 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 12-7 | |
6:35 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 13-7 | |
6:13 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point stepback jump shot | 13-9 | |
5:55 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 15-9 | |
5:32 | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | |||
5:28 | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | |||
5:07 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point jump shot | |||
5:04 | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | |||
5:01 | Royce O'Neale shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
5:01 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-10 | |
5:01 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-11 | |
4:40 | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point cutting dunk (Royce O'Neale assists) | 17-11 | |
4:25 | Nets technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
4:25 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 17-12 | |
4:19 | +3 | Kyle Lowry makes three point pullup jump shot (Kevin Love assists) | 17-15 | |
4:05 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | |||
4:05 | Mikal Bridges misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:05 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
4:05 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-15 | |
3:52 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point layup (Kevin Love assists) | 18-17 | |
3:27 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point hook shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 20-17 | |
3:19 | +3 | Josh Richardson makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 20-20 | |
2:55 | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 23-20 | |
2:38 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
2:35 | Jump ball. Nic Claxton vs. Jimmy Butler (Royce O'Neale gains possession) | |||
2:35 | Jimmy Butler turnover (lost ball) (Nic Claxton steals) | |||
2:32 | +2 | Lonnie Walker IV makes two point running layup (Royce O'Neale assists) | 25-20 | |
2:07 | +3 | Jimmy Butler makes three point jump shot (Kevin Love assists) | 25-23 | |
1:53 | Trendon Watford misses two point floating jump shot | |||
1:50 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
1:48 | Trendon Watford personal foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
1:44 | Kevin Love misses three point jump shot | |||
1:40 | Dennis Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
1:32 | Dennis Smith Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
1:32 | Kevin Love defensive rebound | |||
1:32 | Dennis Smith Jr. personal foul (Kevin Love draws the foul) | |||
1:32 | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-24 | |
1:32 | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-25 | |
1:15 | +2 | Royce O'Neale makes two point driving floating jump shot | 27-25 | |
1:04 | Kevin Love misses three point jump shot | |||
1:00 | Bam Adebayo offensive rebound | |||
0:53 | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 27-28 | |
0:30 | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:27 | Kevin Love defensive rebound | |||
0:22 | Nic Claxton personal foul (Loose ball) (Duncan Robinson draws the foul) | |||
0:22 | +1 | Duncan Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-29 | |
0:22 | +1 | Duncan Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-30 | |
0:01 | Dennis Smith Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
0:01 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:42 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point cutting layup (Duncan Robinson assists) | 27-32 | |
11:37 | Day'Ron Sharpe turnover (bad pass) (Josh Richardson steals) | |||
11:29 | Duncan Robinson misses two point driving layup | |||
11:25 | Dennis Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:20 | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 30-32 | |
11:00 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point dunk | 30-34 | |
10:49 | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point pullup jump shot | 33-34 | |
10:33 | Bam Adebayo misses two point jump shot | |||
10:30 | Lonnie Walker IV defensive rebound | |||
10:22 | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:18 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:16 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point running dunk (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 33-36 | |
9:54 | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 36-36 | |
9:37 | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 36-39 | |
9:10 | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | |||
9:08 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
9:07 | Day'Ron Sharpe misses two point putback layup | |||
9:06 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
9:05 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
9:05 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. personal foul (Loose ball) (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
8:52 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point pullup jump shot | 39-39 | |
8:37 | Jump ball. Bam Adebayo vs. Day'Ron Sharpe (Duncan Robinson gains possession) | |||
8:29 | +2 | Josh Richardson makes two point reverse layup (Bam Adebayo assists) | 39-41 | |
8:13 | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:10 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:05 | Josh Richardson misses three point jump shot | |||
7:58 | Caleb Martin offensive rebound | |||
7:57 | Caleb Martin turnover (bad pass) (Royce O'Neale steals) | |||
7:52 | Dennis Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
7:49 | Josh Richardson defensive rebound | |||
7:37 | Nic Claxton blocks Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s two point driving layup | |||
7:33 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
7:18 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point dunk (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 41-41 | |
7:18 | Duncan Robinson shooting foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | |||
7:18 | +1 | Nic Claxton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-41 | |
7:07 | Duncan Robinson misses two point driving layup | |||
7:06 | Bam Adebayo offensive rebound | |||
7:06 | Dorian Finney-Smith shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
7:06 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-42 | |
7:06 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-43 | |
6:56 | Mikal Bridges misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:53 | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive rebound | |||
6:50 | +3 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes three point jump shot (Cameron Johnson assists) | 45-43 | |
6:37 | Bam Adebayo offensive foul (Off the ball) (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | |||
6:37 | Bam Adebayo turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:37 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
6:25 | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:21 | Mikal Bridges offensive rebound | |||
6:20 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point putback layup | 47-43 | |
6:05 | Cameron Johnson personal foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
5:56 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point driving bank jump shot | 47-45 | |
5:56 | Mikal Bridges shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
5:56 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 47-46 | |
5:38 | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive foul (Charge) (Kevin Love draws the foul) | |||
5:38 | Dorian Finney-Smith turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:15 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
5:11 | Cameron Johnson defensive rebound | |||
4:58 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point driving layup | 49-46 | |
4:31 | Kyle Lowry misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:28 | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | |||
4:13 |