Jimmy Butler takes over late, Heat hold off Pistons 118-110 for 11th win in 14 games
MIAMI (AP) Jimmy Butler took over late, and it was exactly what the Miami Heat needed.
Butler scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson each scored 18 and the Heat topped the Detroit Pistons 118-110 on Tuesday night.
Terry Rozier scored 17 points, Caleb Martin scored 15 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 11 for the Heat, who are 11-3 in their last 14 games. Miami (35-26) moved into sixth in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind No. 4 Orlando (36-26) and No. 5 New York (36-26), plus a tiebreaker ahead of No. 7 Philadelphia (35-26).
“These next 21 games, there's probably going to be a lot of these,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It's just the way it's going right now. Everybody's fighting for playoff positioning.”
The biggest shot came with 22 seconds left, when Butler hit his first and only 3-pointer of the night to seal the game. Butler now has at least one steal and one 3 in 14 consecutive games, the longest such streak of his career and one game behind Rafer Alston (2004) for the longest in Heat history.
Butler is shooting 51% from the field, a career-best-by-far 46% from 3-point range and 86% from the line.
“We just do whatever's necessary right now,” Spoelstra said.
Cade Cunningham scored 23 points for Detroit, which fell back into a tie with Washington for the NBA’s worst record at 9-52. Simone Fontecchio scored 22 for the Pistons, Jaden Ivey had 16, Jalen Duren scored 14 and Isaiah Stewart added 13.
Miami was again without Tyler Herro (foot) and Kevin Love (heel), and Josh Richardson (shoulder) will have season-ending surgery on Wednesday. Some help is on the way; the Heat agreed to terms Tuesday with veteran guard Patty Mills, with that deal likely to be finalized Wednesday.
Detroit plays nine of its next 10 games at home, including each of the next six - a stretch capped by back-to-back games against the Heat on March 15 and 17.
“We feel like we’re much better than we were earlier in the year. That’s just with continuity,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “We feel like the guys we have, as they learn the league and learn how to defend ... that’s part of the maturation and process of developing young players.”
The teams hadn't met since opening night of the season, a 103-102 Miami win in which Cunningham had a straightaway 3-pointer bounce off the rim at the buzzer. And this one was almost just as much of a nail-biter for Miami.
It was 61-60 Miami at the half. The Heat led by 10 after the first quarter, but Detroit controlled much of the second quarter and the Pistons led by as many as four in the third - before Miami peeled off 15 consecutive points.
That spurt took only 2 1/2 minutes. Rozier made a pair of 3-pointers during the run, including the one that capped the burst and put Miami up 80-69 midway through the third.
Detroit was undeterred, getting within one possession - three points or less - seven times the rest of the way. But the Pistons never got the lead back; Robinson hit a 3-pointer, Miami's first of the fourth quarter in 10 tries, with 2:05 left for a 111-105 lead, and then Butler sealed it with five straight points in the final minute.
“We're trending in the right direction," Martin said.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host Brooklyn on Thursday night.
Heat: Visit Dallas on Thursday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jalen Duren vs. Bam Adebayo (Jimmy Butler gains possession) | ||
| 11:39 | | Terry Rozier misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:36 |  | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | ||
| 11:22 | | Jaden Ivey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:18 | | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | ||
| 11:16 | | +3 | Cade Cunningham makes three point jump shot (Jalen Duren assists) | 3-0 |
| 11:00 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:58 | | Cade Cunningham defensive rebound | ||
| 10:44 | | Duncan Robinson shooting foul (Cade Cunningham draws the foul) | ||
| 10:44 | | +1 | Cade Cunningham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-0 |
| 10:44 | | +1 | Cade Cunningham makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-0 |
| 10:29 | | Jaden Ivey shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 10:29 | | Jimmy Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:29 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-1 |
| 10:16 | | Jaden Ivey misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:14 | | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | ||
| 10:11 | | Jaden Ivey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:07 | | Nikola Jovic defensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 5-4 |
| 9:46 | | Isaiah Stewart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:42 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 9:34 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:33 | | Bam Adebayo offensive rebound | ||
| 9:32 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point tip layup | 5-6 |
| 9:06 | | +2 | Ausar Thompson makes two point driving reverse layup (Isaiah Stewart assists) | 7-6 |
| 8:56 | | +2 | Duncan Robinson makes two point driving reverse layup | 7-8 |
| 8:45 | | +2 | Cade Cunningham makes two point driving dunk (Jaden Ivey assists) | 9-8 |
| 8:24 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:22 | | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | Cade Cunningham turnover (lost ball) (Nikola Jovic steals) | ||
| 7:57 | | +3 | Nikola Jovic makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 9-11 |
| 7:41 | | Cade Cunningham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:37 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 7:23 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:23 | | Isaiah Stewart defensive rebound | ||
| 7:15 | | Duncan Robinson blocks Jaden Ivey's two point jump shot | ||
| 7:10 | | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | ||
| 7:07 | | Jalen Duren shooting foul (Duncan Robinson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:07 | | +1 | Duncan Robinson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-12 |
| 7:07 | | +1 | Duncan Robinson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-13 |
| 6:50 | | Bam Adebayo shooting foul (Jaden Ivey draws the foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:50 | | Jaden Ivey misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:50 | | Pistons offensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | +1 | Jaden Ivey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-13 |
| 6:37 | | Jalen Duren shooting foul (Nikola Jovic draws the foul) | ||
| 6:37 | | Nikola Jovic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:37 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | +1 | Nikola Jovic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-14 |
| 6:28 | | James Wiseman turnover (lost ball) (Jimmy Butler steals) | ||
| 6:21 | | Cade Cunningham shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 6:21 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-15 |
| 6:21 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-16 |
| 6:05 | | Cade Cunningham turnover (lost ball) (Jimmy Butler steals) | ||
| 5:59 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point running layup (Terry Rozier assists) | 10-18 |
| 5:48 | | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point pullup jump shot (Cade Cunningham assists) | 12-18 |
| 5:29 | | Terry Rozier turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Stewart steals) | ||
| 5:24 | | +2 | Isaiah Stewart makes two point running layup (Jaden Ivey assists) | 14-18 |
| 5:08 | | +2 | Nikola Jovic makes two point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 14-20 |
| 4:44 | | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point driving layup | 16-20 |
| 4:32 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point hook shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 16-22 |
| 4:19 | | +2 | Cade Cunningham makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-22 |
| 4:09 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:05 | | James Wiseman defensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 20-22 |
| 3:38 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point driving finger roll layup | 20-24 |
| 3:19 | | Terry Rozier shooting foul (Isaiah Stewart draws the foul) | ||
| 3:19 | | +1 | Isaiah Stewart makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-24 |
| 3:19 | | +1 | Isaiah Stewart makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-24 |
| 3:08 | | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jovic assists) | 22-27 |
| 2:55 | | Cade Cunningham misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 2:52 | | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | ||
| 2:42 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving finger roll layup | 22-29 |
| 2:42 | | Pistons 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:26 | | Simone Fontecchio misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:25 | | James Wiseman offensive rebound | ||
| 2:24 | | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point putback layup | 24-29 |
| 2:01 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 1:59 | | Simone Fontecchio defensive rebound | ||
| 1:48 | | Evan Fournier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:45 | | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | ||
| 1:37 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:34 | | Ausar Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:23 | | Evan Fournier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:20 | | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | ||
| 1:06 | | +3 | Haywood Highsmith makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jovic assists) | 24-32 |
| 0:53 | | Jaden Ivey misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:51 | | Orlando Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 0:43 | | Evan Fournier shooting foul (Jaime Jaquez Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 0:43 | | +1 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-33 |
| 0:43 | | +1 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-34 |
| 0:34 | | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 26-34 |
| 0:17 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving floating jump shot (Haywood Highsmith assists) | 26-36 |
| 0:02 | | Marcus Sasser misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | James Wiseman offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | James Wiseman misses two point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Pistons offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period | ||
| 12:00 | | Nikola Jovic technical foul |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | | +1 | Evan Fournier makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 27-36 |
| 11:45 | | Evan Fournier misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | Haywood Highsmith defensive rebound | ||
| 11:21 | | Orlando Robinson misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 11:19 | | James Wiseman defensive rebound | ||
| 11:04 | | +3 | Simone Fontecchio makes three point jump shot (James Wiseman assists) | 30-36 |
| 11:04 | | Nikola Jovic shooting foul (Simone Fontecchio draws the foul) | ||
| 11:04 | | +1 | Simone Fontecchio makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 31-36 |
| 10:43 | | Jimmy Butler turnover (lost ball) (Marcus Sasser steals) | ||
| 10:34 | | +3 | Simone Fontecchio makes three point jump shot (Marcus Sasser assists) | 34-36 |
| 10:17 | | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:13 | | Orlando Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 10:12 | | +2 | Orlando Robinson makes two point putback layup | 34-38 |
| 10:06 | | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point driving layup (Marcus Sasser assists) | 36-38 |
| 9:48 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point layup | ||
| 9:46 | | James Wiseman defensive rebound | ||
| 9:39 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:38 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:25 | | Orlando Robinson misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:23 | | Orlando Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Orlando Robinson assists) | 36-41 |
| 9:00 | | Caleb Martin shooting foul (Simone Fontecchio draws the foul) | ||
| 9:00 | | +1 | Simone Fontecchio makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-41 |
| 9:00 | | +1 | Simone Fontecchio makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-41 |
| 8:52 | | Marcus Sasser personal foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 8:47 | | Orlando Robinson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:35 | | Isaiah Stewart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:32 | | Orlando Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | James Wiseman shooting foul (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | ||
| 8:22 | | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-42 |
| 8:22 | | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-43 |
| 8:06 | | Evan Fournier misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 8:02 | | Orlando Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:57 | | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point running dunk | 38-45 |
| 7:49 | | Caleb Martin shooting foul (Jalen Duren draws the foul) | ||
| 7:49 | | +1 | Jalen Duren makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-45 |
| 7:49 | | +1 | Jalen Duren makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 40-45 |
| 7:35 | | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Duncan Robinson assists) | 40-48 |
| 7:22 | | +2 | Simone Fontecchio makes two point floating jump shot (Marcus Sasser assists) | 42-48 |
| 7:09 | | +3 | Caleb Martin makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 42-51 |
| 6:47 | | Marcus Sasser misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:44 | | Duncan Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:34 | | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:30 | | Ausar Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:10 | | Ausar Thompson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:07 | | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | ||
| 6:07 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point putback dunk | 44-51 |
| 5:52 | | Orlando Robinson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:52 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:32 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:28 | | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | ||
| 5:15 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point stepback jump shot | 44-53 |
| 4:57 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point dunk (Simone Fontecchio assists) | 46-53 |
| 4:37 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point layup | ||
| 4:34 | | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | ||
| 4:25 | | +2 | Isaiah Stewart makes two point layup | 48-53 |
| 3:56 | | Caleb Martin misses two point layup | ||
| 3:56 | | Isaiah Stewart defensive rebound | ||
| 3:51 | | Jaime Jaquez Jr. shooting foul (Ausar Thompson draws the foul) | ||
| 3:51 | | Ausar Thompson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 3:51 | | Pistons offensive rebound | ||
| 3:51 | | +1 | Ausar Thompson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-53 |
| 3:40 | | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point cutting dunk (Terry Rozier assists) | 49-55 |
| 3:23 | | Haywood Highsmith shooting foul (Jaden Ivey draws the foul) | ||
| 3:23 | | +1 | Jaden Ivey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-55 |
| 3:23 | | +1 | Jaden Ivey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-55 |
| 3:13 | | +2 | Terry Rozier makes two point stepback jump shot | 51-57 |
| 2:49 | | +2 | Ausar Thompson makes two point pullup jump shot (Cade Cunningham assists) | 53-57 |
| 2:34 | | Terry Rozier misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:30 | | Jaden Ivey defensive rebound | ||
| 2:21 | | Cade Cunningham misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:20 | | Duncan Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | Haywood Highsmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:09 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | Pistons 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:57 | | Jimmy Butler misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 1:55 | | Cade Cunningham defensive rebound | ||
| 1:52 | | Ausar Thompson misses two point running layup | ||
| 1:49 | | Nikola Jovic defensive rebound | ||
| 1:47 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point running dunk (Terry Rozier assists) | 53-59 |
| 1:31 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point alley-oop dunk (Cade Cunningham assists) | 55-59 |
| 1:11 | | +2 | Duncan Robinson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 55-61 |
| 0:54 | | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point dunk | 57-61 |
| 0:42 | | Bam Adebayo misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 0:39 | | Cade Cunningham defensive rebound |