Butler has 35, Miami gets needed win over Dallas, 129-122
MIAMI (AP) Miami was desperate. So was Dallas.
Jimmy Butler and the Heat had just enough to help their playoff position - while dealing the Mavericks a big blow.
Butler had 35 points and 12 assists, Cody Zeller added 20 points and the Heat held off the Mavericks 129-122 on Saturday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Max Strus and Kevin Love each scored 18 and Tyler Herro added 15 for the Heat. Miami won despite allowing Dallas to shoot a season-best 61%.
“I wouldn't necessarily have drawn it up this way,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Luka Doncic was brilliant again for Dallas, finishing with 42 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 31 points and Kyrie Irving added 23 points and eight assists for the Mavericks.
“A win is a win,” Butler said. “I don't like the fact that they shot 61%. But I do like the fact that we finally won a game.”
The Mavs had been 7-0 this season when shooting at least 54%, and fell to 30-2 all-time, including playoffs, in games where they shot at least 60%.
“Our defense was nonexistent,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “Couldn't get stops.”
Both clubs went to the conference finals last season; the Heat are trying to get out of the play-in round, and the Mavericks are trying to just have a shot at the playoffs.
The win moves Miami (41-37) closer to securing no worse than the No. 7 seed and most advantageous spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. The Heat are now 2 1/2 games ahead of both No. 8 Atlanta (38-39) and No. 9 Toronto (also 38-39).
Miami moved within 1 1/2 games of No. 6 Brooklyn (42-35). Even if the Heat win out and finish with 45 wins, the Nets - who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker - would only need to go 3-2 in their final five games to ensure they would finish ahead of Miami.
Meanwhile, it’s a big blow to Dallas (37-41).
The Mavs fell a full game back of No. 10 Oklahoma City (38-40) in the race for the last Western Conference play-in spot, and worse, the Thunder own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Dallas is now two games back of No. 9 Minnesota (39-39) and just a half-game ahead of No. 12 Utah (36-41).
“Just got to play hard, play with desperation and anything can happen,” Hardaway said. “Anything can happen.”
Miami changed its starting lineup, partly out of necessity. Center Bam Adebayo didn’t play because of a right hip contusion, so Zeller - starting a game for the first time since May 15, 2021, for Charlotte - took his spot and Strus took the forward starting spot that had been held by Love since he joined the Heat in February.
The moves paid immediate dividends. Strus was 3 for 3, all 3-pointers, in his first shift. Love was 3 for 3 from the field and 6 for 6 from the line for 13 points in his first 8 minutes off the bench, and Zeller had 12 points by halftime.
“K-Love is always, always has been about winning,” Butler said. “As long as we win, he's not going to complain.”
It all helped add up to the third highest-scoring first half in Heat history: Miami led 76-64 at the break, stretched the lead to 18 in the second half - then had to hang on in the final moments anyway.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Dallas' string of three consecutive winning regular seasons will end. The best the Mavs can finish is 41-41. ... The Mavs fell to 5-16 in games where they allow more than 100 points. ... Dallas had one offensive rebound.
Heat: Butler’s 16 first-quarter points were his second-most in any quarter this season. He had 17 in the third quarter against Milwaukee on Feb. 4. … Miami will finish with a record of at least .500 for the fourth consecutive year and the 24th time in its 35 seasons.
WHAT’S LEFT
Dallas plays its final road game of the regular season at Atlanta on Sunday, then finishes with home games against Sacramento, Chicago and San Antonio.
Miami starts a trip to Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington on Tuesday, before finishing at home April 9 against Orlando.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Atlanta on Sunday.
Heat: Visit Detroit on Tuesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Dwight Powell vs. Cody Zeller (Reggie Bullock gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 |  | +2 | Dwight Powell makes two point alley-oop layup (Luka Doncic assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:22 | | Gabe Vincent misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Gabe Vincent offensive rebound | ||
| 11:19 | | Gabe Vincent misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 11:19 | | Cody Zeller offensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point driving bank jump shot | 2-2 |
| 10:52 | | Kyrie Irving misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:52 | | Tyler Herro defensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | Gabe Vincent misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:37 | | Dwight Powell defensive rebound | ||
| 10:23 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Reggie Bullock assists) | 4-2 |
| 10:09 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point bank jump shot | 4-4 |
| 9:53 | | Luka Doncic misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:50 | | Gabe Vincent defensive rebound | ||
| 9:39 | | +2 | Gabe Vincent makes two point turnaround jump shot | 4-6 |
| 9:39 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. shooting foul (Gabe Vincent draws the foul) | ||
| 9:39 | | +1 | Gabe Vincent makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 4-7 |
| 9:32 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point pullup jump shot | 6-7 |
| 9:32 | | Jimmy Butler shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 9:32 | | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-7 |
| 9:23 | | Tyler Herro misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:21 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:09 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 9:09 | | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-7 |
| 9:09 | | +1 | Luka Doncic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-7 |
| 9:02 | | Dwight Powell shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 9:02 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-8 |
| 9:02 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-9 |
| 8:51 | | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 12-9 |
| 8:32 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 12-12 |
| 8:19 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 14-12 |
| 8:07 | | Cody Zeller misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:04 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:51 | | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 17-12 |
| 7:41 | | Tyler Herro misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:38 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 20-12 |
| 7:36 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:16 | | +3 | Jimmy Butler makes three point jump shot (Tyler Herro assists) | 20-15 |
| 7:01 | | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Luka Doncic assists) | 22-15 |
| 6:50 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point pullup jump shot | 22-17 |
| 6:40 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:38 | | Cody Zeller defensive rebound | ||
| 6:21 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point stepback jump shot | 22-19 |
| 6:21 | | Reggie Bullock shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | ||
| 6:21 | | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 22-20 |
| 6:06 | | Reggie Bullock misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:04 | | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | ||
| 5:56 | | +2 | Cody Zeller makes two point cutting layup (Jimmy Butler assists) | 22-22 |
| 5:39 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Lowry steals) | ||
| 5:38 | | Max Strus turnover (bad pass) (Luka Doncic steals) | ||
| 5:38 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving floating jump shot | 24-22 |
| 5:23 | | +3 | Gabe Vincent makes three point pullup jump shot | 24-25 |
| 5:10 | | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:08 | | Cody Zeller defensive rebound | ||
| 4:51 | | Jimmy Butler misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:47 | | Gabe Vincent offensive rebound | ||
| 4:44 | | Gabe Vincent misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:40 | | Kyle Lowry offensive rebound | ||
| 4:37 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 24-28 |
| 4:37 | | Mavericks 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:25 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving layup (Kyrie Irving assists) | 26-28 |
| 4:05 | | Kyle Lowry misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 4:04 | | Maxi Kleber defensive rebound | ||
| 3:57 | | Luka Doncic misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:54 | | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | ||
| 3:50 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point cutting layup (Kyle Lowry assists) | 26-30 |
| 3:29 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 28-30 |
| 3:12 | | Kyle Lowry misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:09 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | Josh Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:01 | | Heat defensive rebound | ||
| 2:54 | | Jaden Hardy personal foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 2:47 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 28-33 |
| 2:32 | | +3 | Maxi Kleber makes three point jump shot (Luka Doncic assists) | 31-33 |
| 2:15 | | Maxi Kleber shooting foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul) | ||
| 2:15 | | +1 | Kyle Lowry makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-34 |
| 2:15 | | +1 | Kyle Lowry makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-35 |
| 2:03 | | Duncan Robinson personal foul (Josh Green draws the foul) | ||
| 1:50 | | Josh Green misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:48 | | Duncan Robinson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:42 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point running finger roll layup (Kyle Lowry assists) | 31-37 |
| 1:37 | | Christian Wood offensive foul (Charge) (Kevin Love draws the foul) | ||
| 1:37 | | Christian Wood turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:15 | | +2 | Kyle Lowry makes two point turnaround jump shot | 31-39 |
| 1:15 | | Josh Green shooting foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul) | ||
| 1:15 | | +1 | Kyle Lowry makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 31-40 |
| 0:59 | | Josh Green turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:41 | | +2 | Kevin Love makes two point driving hook shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 31-42 |
| 0:27 | | Luka Doncic misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:26 | | Heat defensive rebound | ||
| 0:26 | | Luka Doncic personal foul (Loose ball) (Kevin Love draws the foul) | ||
| 0:26 | | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-43 |
| 0:26 | | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-44 |
| 0:07 | | Christian Wood misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:06 | | Gabe Vincent defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 | | Maxi Kleber shooting foul (Kevin Love draws the foul) | ||
| 11:45 | | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-45 |
| 11:45 | | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-46 |
| 11:32 | | Jaden Hardy turnover (bad pass) (Tyler Herro steals) | ||
| 11:15 | | Tyler Herro misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 11:13 | | Christian Wood defensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | Jaden Hardy offensive foul (Charge) (Kevin Love draws the foul) | ||
| 11:11 | | Jaden Hardy turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:56 | | +2 | Kevin Love makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 31-48 |
| 10:43 | | +3 | Jaden Hardy makes three point pullup jump shot (Maxi Kleber assists) | 34-48 |
| 10:29 | | Tyler Herro turnover (lost ball) (Maxi Kleber steals) | ||
| 10:26 | | Jaden Hardy turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:12 | | +3 | Kevin Love makes three point jump shot (Tyler Herro assists) | 34-51 |
| 9:56 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:55 | | Dwight Powell offensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | Caleb Martin personal foul (Dwight Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 9:45 | | +3 | Christian Wood makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 37-51 |
| 9:39 | | Dwight Powell shooting foul (Kevin Love draws the foul) | ||
| 9:39 | | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-52 |
| 9:39 | | +1 | Kevin Love makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-53 |
| 9:27 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:25 | | Kevin Love defensive rebound | ||
| 9:25 | | Kevin Love offensive foul (Dwight Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 9:25 | | Kevin Love turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:08 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Christian Wood assists) | 39-53 |
| 9:07 | | Theo Pinson technical foul | ||
| 9:07 | | +1 | Tyler Herro makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 39-54 |
| 8:44 | | +2 | Tyler Herro makes two point driving floating jump shot | 39-56 |
| 8:31 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Justin Holiday draws the foul) | ||
| 8:31 | | +1 | Justin Holiday makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 40-56 |
| 8:31 | | +1 | Justin Holiday makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 41-56 |
| 8:31 | | +1 | Justin Holiday makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 42-56 |
| 8:19 | | Tyler Herro misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:14 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:13 | | Cody Zeller shooting foul (Tim Hardaway Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 8:13 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:13 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 8:13 | | +1 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-56 |
| 8:03 | | Tyler Herro misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:00 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:51 | | Caleb Martin personal foul (Dwight Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 7:34 | | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point jump shot (Reggie Bullock assists) | 46-56 |
| 7:27 | | Heat 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:15 | | Luka Doncic shooting foul (Cody Zeller draws the foul) | ||
| 7:15 | | Cody Zeller misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:15 | | Heat offensive rebound | ||
| 7:15 | | +1 | Cody Zeller makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-57 |
| 7:00 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:58 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 6:54 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point running layup (Jimmy Butler assists) | 46-59 |
| 6:39 | | Luka Doncic turnover (lost ball) (Cody Zeller steals) | ||
| 6:30 | | Dwight Powell blocks Cody Zeller's two point cutting layup | ||
| 6:27 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 6:25 | | Kyrie Irving misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:20 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 6:11 | | +2 | Cody Zeller makes two point layup (Caleb Martin assists) | 46-61 |
| 6:11 | | Dwight Powell shooting foul (Cody Zeller draws the foul) | ||
| 6:11 | | +1 | Cody Zeller makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 46-62 |
| 5:53 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point floating jump shot | 48-62 |
| 5:43 | | +2 | Cody Zeller makes two point cutting dunk (Jimmy Butler assists) | 48-64 |
| 5:26 | | Reggie Bullock misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:22 | | Tyler Herro defensive rebound | ||
| 5:10 | | +2 | Cody Zeller makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jimmy Butler assists) | 48-66 |
| 5:10 | | Mavericks 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:56 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 50-66 |
| 4:29 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 50-68 |
| 4:14 | | +2 | Reggie Bullock makes two point pullup jump shot (Tim Hardaway Jr. assists) | 52-68 |
| 4:00 | | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point driving layup | 52-70 |
| 3:50 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point pullup jump shot | 54-70 |
| 3:40 | | +2 | Cody Zeller makes two point cutting layup (Jimmy Butler assists) | 54-72 |
| 3:22 | | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Maxi Kleber assists) | 56-72 |
| 3:10 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:07 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point running layup | 58-72 |
| 2:38 | | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 58-74 |
| 2:21 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point turnaround jump shot (Maxi Kleber assists) | 60-74 |
| 2:00 | | Max Strus misses two point driving layup |