Butler scores 36, Heat get hot late to top Pacers 142-132 and snap a 3-game slide
MIAMI (AP) The last time Miami scored 45 points in a fourth quarter was 1989, long before Pat Riley arrived in South Florida, long before Erik Spoelstra arrived, long before most of the current Heat players were born.
It happened again Thursday to fuel a comeback win.
The Heat made 15 of their final 17 shots and Jimmy Butler's 36 points led the way as Miami topped Indiana 142-132 - despite the Pacers getting a career-high 44 points from Tyrese Haliburton.
The 45 fourth-quarter points were second-most in team history, topped by only a 48-point fourth against New York on March 2, 1989. And it was the third-most total points in Heat history, more than 31 above their season average.
“That's definitely not our style of basketball,” Butler said. “But a win is a win.”
Rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 14 of his 24 in the fourth quarter for the Heat, who trailed by 13 early and didn’t take the lead for the first time until about 10 minutes remained. Butler added 10 rebounds, Josh Richardson scored 19 points and Duncan Robinson added 16 for Miami, which snapped a three-game slide.
The Heat used a 28-6 run in the fourth to take control in the opener of a two-game series. They host the Pacers again Saturday.
“I thought the fourth-quarter defense was really good,” Spoelstra said. “They're not an easy team to defend.”
Haliburton scored 28 points in the first half for the Pacers, who had 73 points at intermission - then gave up 78 in the second half. Haliburton also had 10 assists, the NBA's first game of at least 44 points and that many assists since Donovan Mitchell's 71-point, 11-assist night for Cleveland on Jan. 2.
Obi Toppin scored 25 for the Pacers, who trailed by as many as 16 in the fourth before making a late run. Bruce Brown scored 15 and Buddy Hield had 12, though shot 2 for 11 from 3-point range.
The Pacers are averaging 127.9 points, slightly ahead of Denver’s NBA-record average of 126.5 set in 1981-82.
Problem is, they're giving up 125.8 points - the worst in the league this season. Only two teams, the 1981-82 and 1990-91 Denver Nuggets, finished a season allowing more points per game.
“Ultimately, it comes down to defense,” Haliburton said. “We can score against anybody as a group. ... But at some point this year, we’re going to have to get some stops to win games. That’s not on the coaching staff. It’s on us as players. And, you know, it starts with me.”
The Heat lost All-Star center Bam Adebayo in the second quarter after a bruised left hip was aggravated; Adebayo has been dealing with that problem for several days and missed a game last week because of that hip.
Indiana missed 20 shots (12 for 32) in the fourth to three for Miami (15 for 18). The Pacers were 3 for 17 from 3-point range in the fourth, while the Heat went 2 for 2.
“Fourth quarter was obviously very rough,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We've got to play better overall. We've got to make more shots. We've got to defend situations better.”
Miami paid tribute to longtime Pacers media relations director David Benner, who died earlier this year. A seat was left in Benner's honor courtside, with a bouquet of yellow flowers - the Pacers' primary color.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Myles Turner vs. Bam Adebayo (Jimmy Butler gains possession) | ||
| 11:39 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 11:37 |  | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | ||
| 11:27 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Buddy Hield offensive rebound | ||
| 11:19 | | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point driving finger roll layup (Buddy Hield assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:06 | | Duncan Robinson turnover (traveling) | ||
| 10:51 | | Duncan Robinson personal foul (Bruce Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 10:46 | | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 5-0 |
| 10:32 | | Kyle Lowry misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:30 | | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:18 | | Haywood Highsmith defensive rebound | ||
| 10:11 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point jump shot | 5-2 |
| 10:02 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point pullup jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 7-2 |
| 9:50 | | Buddy Hield shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 9:50 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-3 |
| 9:50 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-4 |
| 9:35 | | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point pullup jump shot (Bruce Brown assists) | 10-4 |
| 9:16 | | Duncan Robinson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:14 | | Buddy Hield defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point jump shot (Bruce Brown assists) | 13-4 |
| 8:43 | | Myles Turner blocks Bam Adebayo's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:40 | | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | ||
| 8:36 | | Bruce Brown misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:36 | | Myles Turner offensive rebound | ||
| 8:32 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point turnaround jump shot | 15-4 |
| 8:32 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:21 | | +3 | Kyle Lowry makes three point jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 15-7 |
| 8:07 | | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point jump shot (Buddy Hield assists) | 18-7 |
| 7:49 | | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:45 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 7:38 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point driving finger roll layup | 20-7 |
| 7:22 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-9 |
| 7:22 | | Myles Turner shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | ||
| 7:22 | | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 20-10 |
| 7:07 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 6:46 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point hook shot (Duncan Robinson assists) | 20-12 |
| 6:26 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 6:20 | | +2 | Josh Richardson makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-14 |
| 6:20 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:08 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. shooting foul (Tyrese Haliburton draws the foul) | ||
| 6:08 | | +1 | Tyrese Haliburton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-14 |
| 6:08 | | +1 | Tyrese Haliburton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-14 |
| 5:58 | | Jimmy Butler turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Jackson steals) | ||
| 5:48 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving reverse layup (Obi Toppin assists) | 24-14 |
| 5:32 | | +2 | Kevin Love makes two point layup (Kyle Lowry assists) | 24-16 |
| 5:19 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 26-16 |
| 5:08 | | +2 | Kyle Lowry makes two point driving layup | 26-18 |
| 4:53 | | Josh Richardson personal foul (Tyrese Haliburton draws the foul) | ||
| 4:48 | | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 4:27 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:24 | | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | ||
| 4:15 | | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point driving layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 28-18 |
| 4:07 | | Isaiah Jackson shooting foul (Jaime Jaquez Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 4:07 | | +1 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-19 |
| 4:07 | | +1 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-20 |
| 3:55 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. personal foul (Isaiah Jackson draws the foul) | ||
| 3:49 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving layup (Isaiah Jackson assists) | 30-20 |
| 3:23 | | Jimmy Butler misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:18 | | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | ||
| 3:04 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 32-20 |
| 2:52 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point pullup jump shot (Kevin Love assists) | 32-22 |
| 2:29 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:27 | | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Kyle Lowry misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:59 | | Josh Richardson offensive rebound | ||
| 1:58 | | +2 | Josh Richardson makes two point layup | 32-24 |
| 1:44 | | Josh Richardson personal foul (Tyrese Haliburton draws the foul) | ||
| 1:44 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:44 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:44 | | +1 | Tyrese Haliburton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-24 |
| 1:37 | | +2 | Josh Richardson makes two point driving layup | 33-26 |
| 1:12 | | Myles Turner misses two point bank jump shot | ||
| 1:09 | | Myles Turner offensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point bank jump shot | 35-26 |
| 0:57 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 0:57 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-27 |
| 0:57 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-28 |
| 0:41 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point driving layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 37-28 |
| 0:41 | | Jimmy Butler shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 0:41 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 38-28 |
| 0:35 | | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point pullup jump shot (Bam Adebayo assists) | 38-31 |
| 0:10 | | Aaron Nesmith turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:03 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point stepback jump shot | 38-33 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | Buddy Hield misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:39 | | Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound | ||
| 11:37 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point driving layup | 40-33 |
| 11:11 | | Caleb Martin misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:07 | | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | ||
| 11:05 | | Haywood Highsmith shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | ||
| 11:05 | | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 41-33 |
| 11:05 | | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-33 |
| 10:52 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. turnover (traveling) | ||
| 10:39 | | Myles Turner misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:35 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 10:12 | | Caleb Martin turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Nesmith steals) | ||
| 10:05 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point running reverse layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 44-33 |
| 9:51 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving bank jump shot (Haywood Highsmith assists) | 44-35 |
| 9:34 | | Bam Adebayo shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 9:34 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-35 |
| 9:34 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-35 |
| 9:14 | | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 46-38 |
| 8:56 | | Myles Turner misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:54 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 8:48 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point running finger roll layup | ||
| 8:46 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 8:44 | | +2 | Buddy Hield makes two point running layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 48-38 |
| 8:38 | | Aaron Nesmith personal foul (Jaime Jaquez Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 8:24 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point layup | ||
| 8:24 | | Caleb Martin offensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | Andrew Nembhard shooting foul (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | ||
| 8:24 | | Caleb Martin misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:24 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-39 |
| 8:15 | | Buddy Hield misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:11 | | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | ||
| 7:58 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 7:55 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:40 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:38 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 7:35 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point running layup | 48-41 |
| 7:35 | | Isaiah Jackson shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | ||
| 7:35 | | Bam Adebayo misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 7:35 | | Pacers defensive rebound | ||
| 7:32 | | Andrew Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Duncan Robinson steals) | ||
| 7:22 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:19 | | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | ||
| 7:10 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:08 | | Josh Richardson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving layup | 48-43 |
| 6:55 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:46 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:41 | | Orlando Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:28 | | Orlando Robinson misses two point layup | ||
| 6:26 | | Bruce Brown defensive rebound | ||
| 6:23 | | Obi Toppin turnover (illegal assist) | ||
| 6:12 | | +2 | Kyle Lowry makes two point driving layup (Caleb Martin assists) | 48-45 |
| 6:01 | | Bruce Brown misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:01 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 6:01 | | Kyle Lowry personal foul (Loose ball) (Bruce Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 5:58 | | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 50-45 |
| 5:45 | | Isaiah Jackson shooting foul (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | ||
| 5:45 | | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-46 |
| 5:45 | | Caleb Martin misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 5:42 | | Caleb Martin offensive rebound | ||
| 5:35 | | Bennedict Mathurin shooting foul (Josh Richardson draws the foul) | ||
| 5:35 | | +1 | Josh Richardson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-47 |
| 5:35 | | +1 | Josh Richardson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 50-48 |
| 5:25 | | +2 | Bruce Brown makes two point driving layup | 52-48 |
| 5:16 | | Josh Richardson turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Nesmith steals) | ||
| 5:10 | | Obi Toppin turnover (lost ball) (Caleb Martin steals) | ||
| 4:54 | | +2 | Orlando Robinson makes two point driving layup (Jimmy Butler assists) | 52-50 |
| 4:39 | | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point jump shot (Bruce Brown assists) | 55-50 |
| 4:22 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving floating jump shot | 55-52 |
| 4:12 | | Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point putback layup | 57-52 |
| 4:09 | | Kyle Lowry shooting foul (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | ||
| 4:09 | | +1 | Aaron Nesmith makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 58-52 |
| 3:57 | | Caleb Martin turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Haliburton steals) | ||
| 3:56 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point running dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 60-52 |
| 3:56 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:42 | | Jimmy Butler misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:42 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 3:42 | | Bruce Brown personal foul (Loose ball) (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 3:42 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 60-53 |
| 3:42 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 60-54 |
| 3:34 |