The Miami Heat are reaping the benefits of Jimmy Butler’s return after he missed four games due to an ankle injury. The star forward made an immediate impact in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers and followed it up with another spectacular performance in a hard-fought overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA regular season.
In the 123-118 OT win, Butler delivered a masterclass, tying the game at 114 with just four seconds left in regulation. He finished the night with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, once again proving why he’s the centerpiece of this Heat team.
Following the game, Butler credited his aggressive approach on offense to Spoelstra’s guidance. “I feel like I gotta start attacking more often whenever I’m aggressive like that, like the guys want me to be, like Spo always telling me to be,” Butler said. “It opens up a lot more for everybody else. So if I can spearhead that part of the offense, we good. Now, just got to figure out how to do it on the defensive side.”
Butler also praised Spoelstra for drawing up the late-game play that sent the matchup into overtime. “I just saw that he got voted the best coach in the association,” Butler added. “Rightfully so, because he’d be locked in, he’d be studying and stuff like nobody I’ve ever seen. And he drew up something that was incredible. And I hate to say it, but Duncan made an incredible pass.”
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Bam Adebayo commends Butler’s leadership
Bam Adebayo, who also played a key role in the win with 19 points and 11 rebounds, spoke highly of Butler’s ability to make the right play in crucial moments.
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“I mean, he’s a smart player, man. He makes the right play all the time,” Adebayo said. “And when it’s all setting up and we feed off of it. You know, we have moments where sometimes it’s Tyler, sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s him. And right now, it’s him, and we’re behind that.”
Spoelstra highlights Butler’s offensive versatility
Spoelstra lauded Butler’s offensive brilliance and unique ability to elevate his game in critical moments. “He has the highest percentile of processing speed when the ball’s in his hands, that was there our first year,” Spoelstra explained. “And you know the uniqueness of how he does it—he can bring this rugged physicality, intensity, toe-the-line intensity, and slow everything down in the moments of truth.”
Spoelstra elaborated further, comparing Butler’s IQ to some of the league’s top talents. “That’s part of his genius. He’s not just putting his head down and crashing into people, just three yards and a cloud of dust. He’s reading wherever the rotation may slip up,” he said. “You know, that’s the kind of thing that obviously great players like, somebody like Jokic, you know, he’s doing a little bit of slower pace, but that’s what he’s doing—he’s processing this. That’s a tough skill.”
