Jimmy Butler took the final free throw of the evening, then bent his knees a bit and virtually appeared not sure what would occur because the ball made its solution to the rim.
Turns out, it was excellent — 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 only a regular Tuesday evening for the Miami Heat,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “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 heart Dewayne Dedmon was ejected after arguing together with his personal workforce 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, initially, for that,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “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 gained,” Butler said. “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 stated.
Miami led 89-88 going into the fourth, and with Butler on the bench — he had performed all the 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 related 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 heart Eugene Omoruyi was referred to 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 identical to that, a 96-91 deficit was a 97-96 lead.
“We all the time speak about discovering a solution to win. … This is an efficient begin to that,” Butler stated.
TIP-INS
Thunder: Oklahoma City reached the halfway level of this season at 18-23. Even with out the injured No. 2 decide Chet Holmgren, it is progress — the Thunder have been 15-21 on the midpoint of the 72-game season two years in the past, and 14-27 halfway via 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 obtainable Heat participant who didn’t get into the sport. … Orlando Robinson began at heart for Adebayo, making him the thirteenth participant to start out for Miami this season and the 202nd to start out a sport in workforce 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.
(*6*) Daigneault stated. “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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