Jimmy Butler Dazzles on Both Ends As Miami Heat Edge Past Utah Jazz

Jimmy Butler Dazzles on Both Ends As Miami Heat Edge Past Utah Jazz

Joel Reyes
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:28 PM
  • The Miami Heat recorded yet another close win on Monday
  • They came from behind to beat the Utah Jazz by four points
  • Jimmy Butler was great on both ends of the floor for the Heat

The Miami Heat returned to winning ways on Monday, pulling off a narrow 119-115 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Seven players scored in double figures for the Heat, who improved to 37-33 for the season.

They moved 2.5 games ahead of the Hawks for seventh place in the Eastern Conference following Atlanta’s loss to Minnesota.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz
Jimmy Butler in action against the Utah Jazz. Images: Issac Baldizon/ Megan Briggs.
Source: Getty Images

Butler leads Miami’s balanced attack

Jimmy Butler led all Miami scorers with 24 points. He shot 5 of 14 from the field and made 13 of his 15 free throws. Butler stuffed the stat sheet as he finished with eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks in 31 minutes of action, per ESPN.

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Gabe Vincent and Tyler Herro each scored 18 points, while Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love chipped in 16 and 11 points respectively.

The Heat needed those contributions from their starters and the 32 points from their bench as they were involved in yet another close game. Monday’s contest was Miami's 24th win by five points or less this regular season.

Herro and Adebayo rescue Heat

The Heat were in danger of dropping their second straight game as the Jazz took the lead on Talen Horton-Tucker’s jumper with 1:16 left. Herro answered immediately for Miami, knocking down a trey to give the Heat a two-point lead with 55.3 seconds left in the clock.

It stayed that way until the final seconds when Ochai Agbaji’s close-range shot was blocked by Adebayo, who was fouled after grabbing the rebound. He calmly sank the ensuing free throws with six seconds left to seal the win for Miami.

The fourth quarter was a seesaw affair, with the Heat and the Jazz trading leads 13 times during that period. The Heat are now 28-22 in clutch games, while the Jazz dropped to 20-26.

Butler stuns Sixers with layup

Sports Brief previously reported on one of the Heat’s close wins this season.

Miami defeated Philadelphia 101-99 late last month to snap its losing streak.

Butler scored an acrobatic layup in the closing minutes to help the Heat win.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.
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