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NBA News: Jimmy Butler breaks silence about his responsibility in Heat's loss to Phoenix

The Miami Heat put up a strong fight against the Phoenix Suns but ultimately fell in a close 115-112 contest. Jimmy Butler was at the center of a pivotal moment that could have changed the game’s outcome, and afterward, he took accountability for his decision.

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 25, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.
© Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesJimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 25, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Miami Heat delivered a commendable performance against one of the NBA’s top teams this season. At the Footprint Center, Erik Spoelstra’s squad kept the Phoenix Suns on their toes, ultimately losing by a narrow margin. However, the result might have looked different had Jimmy Butler made another choice in the game’s final seconds.

With Phoenix up by three and only moments left on the clock, Butler received the ball from Terry Rozier just inside the two-point line. He quickly repositioned himself to attempt a three-pointer but, surprisingly, decided at the last moment to pass to Tyler Herro. The guard, however, wasn’t able to release the shot before the buzzer sounded.

“I should’ve just pulled back and shot it,” Butler admitted in a post-game interview shared on the @HeatCulture13 account on X. “We kind of knew what was gonna go on,” the forward continued, taking ownership of his decision. “My turnover. Gotta shoot that one.”

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Understanding Butler’s choice

While it seemed like Butler had the best look for the game-tying shot, his choice to defer to Herro was perhaps understandable. Passing the ball to Tyler, who has been one of Miami ’s most reliable shooters this season, could have been a reasonable decision given the circumstances.

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Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro

“He’s doing what he does best, putting the ball in the basket,” Butler said about Herro’s performance. The stats support Jimmy’s confidence: Herro has shot 45.9% from beyond the arc this season, and against the Suns, he led the team with 28 points. On the other hand, Butler had a relatively quiet night, finishing with just 15 points.

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Spoelstra’s take on the play

Head coach Erik Spoelstra also addressed the final play in his post-game remarks. “I think the only play at that point would have been for (Butler) to shoot the three,” Spoelstra said candidly. “There was a little bit of zig and zag, and then we ended up running out of time.” Still, he left the team with an optimistic note: “We’ll be better with that.”

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