MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler stepped back on to the court docket in his common time slot, halfway by way of the fourth quarter, with the Miami Warmth clinging to a just one-issue lead.
Not even three minutes later on, the lead was 12 — and the Heat were being on their way to a essential earn.
Butler concluded with 35 factors and nine assists, Tyler Herro scored 14 of his 22 in the pivotal ultimate quarter and the Warmth moved closer to escaping participate in-in tournament selection by beating the New York Knicks 127-120 on Wednesday night time.
“Fourth quarter is successful time,” Herro explained. “That’s when my scoring is required most.”
Herro produced 4 3-ideas in the fourth for the Warmth, who led by 11 in the 3rd, shed the direct briefly, then took the direct back again for very good with a 16-2 operate halfway by means of the ultimate quarter.
Herro and Max Strus each and every had a pair of 3’s in the course of the clinching run for Miami (40-34), which is now just percentage factors at the rear of Brooklyn (39-33) in the race for the sixth and final certain playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Nets visit the Heat on Saturday.
“Must-gain,” Herro claimed.
Gabe Vincent scored 19, Bam Adebayo scored 15, Kyle Lowry had 14 and Strus concluded with 11 for Miami — in what grew to become the 700th career win for coach Erik Spoelstra.
New York’s Julius Randle, coming off a 57-place effort Monday from Minnesota, was held to 15. RJ Barrett scored 26 for the Knicks, who received 25 from Jalen Brunson and 22 from Quentin Grimes.
The Knicks reduce what was a 12-level deficit with 3:54 left down to 5 on a 3-pointer by Barrett with 42.2 seconds remaining.
Butler made a pair of free throws to force the guide back to seven, Brunson skipped two absolutely free throws with 22.3 seconds remaining and that essentially sealed matters for Miami.
New York shot 71% in the fourth — but authorized Miami to shoot 67% in that time period, and the Warmth were being 6 for 7 on 3’s in the ultimate quarter.
“They performed seriously well,” Knicks mentor Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “I believed it was a tricky-fought video game, but our protection naturally was not good more than enough.”
Idea-INS
Knicks: New York played the front end of its 12th and ultimate back-to-again of the season. … The Knicks have trailed by double digits in four consecutive video games, tying their second-longest this sort of streak of the time. New York confronted deficits of at minimum 10 details in five straight game titles from Oct. 28 by means of Nov. 5.
Heat: Cody Zeller (broken nose) skipped his fifth consecutive sport. … Butler performed in his 59th match of the period. That’s the most he has logged in any of his four Warmth seasons he played in 58 of a doable 73 in the pandemic-altered 2019-20 period.
REMEMBERING WILLIS
The Heat had a pregame tribute and instant of silence committed to the life of Knicks legend Willis Reed, who died Tuesday.
“Obviously, we all know what he meant and carries on to signify and will generally signify to our organization, the town and the NBA,” reported Thibodeau, including “he embodied almost everything you want a Knick to be.”
Thibodeau devoted the entirety of his pregame availability to telling tales about Reed and detailing his interactions with him.
In the course of the Knicks broadcast on MSG Networks, analyst and fellow Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier also raved about Reed — his mate and former teammate. “He created me the player who I am and the person that I am off the courtroom as well,” Frazier reported.
SPO Enjoy
Spoelstra is the fourth mentor in NBA heritage to gain at minimum 700 video games with just one staff. Gregg Popovich entered Wednesday with 1,363 wins with San Antonio, Jerry Sloan experienced 1,127 with Utah and Crimson Auerbach had 795 with Boston.
UP Upcoming
Knicks: Visit Orlando on Thursday.
Warmth: Host Brooklyn on Saturday.
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