MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler took the last free throw of the night, then bent his knees a bit and virtually appeared uncertain what would occur because the ball made its solution to the rim.
Turns out, it was good — and so was Miami on Tuesday evening.
The Heat set an NBA document by making all 40 of their free throws, the final of these approaching Butler’s three-point play with 12.9 seconds left, and rallied within the remaining moments to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-111.
Miami topped the 39-for-39 effort by Utah towards Portland on Dec. 7, 1982.
“It’s just a normal Tuesday night for the Miami Heat,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “I think this is when we feel most alive, when everything just happens and when all of our competitive juices get out there. That’s the team we all can relate to. That’s the team I like.”
Here’s simply a few of what occurred Tuesday — the Heat performed with out six injured gamers, together with 4 starters; backup Heat middle Dewayne Dedmon was ejected after arguing along with his personal staff and smacking a therapeutic massage gun onto the court docket throughout play from the sideline; Miami had a six-point possession within the fourth quarter; and Josh Giddey had a triple-double for the Thunder.
Oh, and the document from the road.
“Credit them, first of all, for that,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “That’s impressive.”
Butler scored 35 factors and was 23 for 23 from the road, tying the second-most makes with out a miss in NBA historical past. James Harden made 24 with out a miss for Houston on Dec. 3, 2019, and Dirk Nowitzki made 24 with out a miss for Dallas in a playoff sport towards the Thunder on May 17, 2011. Dominique Wilkins additionally went 23 for 23 in a sport in 1992.
“We won,” Butler mentioned. “Complete team effort. I’m proud of my guys.”
Max Strus scored 22 factors and Victor Oladipo had 19 for Miami. The Heat have been with out 4 common starters — Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin — due to accidents.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 factors for the Thunder. Giddey completed with 18 factors, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the triple-double on an help organising Aaron Wiggins’ dunk for a 111-106 lead with 1:28 left.
Miami scored the ultimate six factors.
“Whatever it takes to win,” Butler mentioned.
Miami led 89-88 going into the fourth, and with Butler on the bench — he had performed your entire third quarter — the Thunder took benefit. They scored the primary six factors of the ultimate interval, taking their first lead of bigger than three factors when Tre Mann linked on a jumper with 9:20 left for a 94-89 lead.
But a six-point possession gave Miami the lead again. Oladipo made a steal and Thunder middle Eugene Omoruyi was known as for a clear-path foul. Oladipo made each free throws, and on the continued Miami possession, Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer whereas getting fouled by Mann. Vincent made the free throw, and similar to that, a 96-91 deficit was a 97-96 lead.
“We always talk about finding a way to win. … This is a good start to that,” Butler mentioned.
TIP-INS
Thunder: Oklahoma City reached the halfway level of this season at 18-23. Even with out the injured No. 2 choose Chet Holmgren, it’s progress — the Thunder have been 15-21 on the midpoint of the 72-game season two years in the past, and 14-27 halfway by final season. … Gilgeous-Alexander had 15 of his factors within the remaining 6:26 of the second quarter, after having solely two factors beforehand.
Heat: Udonis Haslem was the one accessible Heat participant who didn’t get into the sport. … Orlando Robinson began at middle for Adebayo, making him the thirteenth participant to start out for Miami this season and the 202nd to start out a sport in staff historical past.
MANY LINEUPS
Oklahoma City used its twentieth beginning lineup of the season in 41 video games. Miami used its 18th in 42 video games.
“I think there’s a hidden benefit to kind of some instability in your rotations and in your lineups,” Daigneault mentioned. “It forces your own team to become very adaptive and to really not make excuses … and I think it becomes hard to adjust to.”
UP NEXT
Thunder: At Philadelphia on Thursday evening.
Heat: Host Milwaukee on Thursday evening.
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