Miami was desperate. So was Dallas. Jimmy Butler and the Heat had just enough to help their playoff position – while also delivering a huge blow to the Mavericks.
Butler scored 35 points and 12 assists, Cody Zeller added 20 and the Heat beat the Mavericks 129-122 on Saturday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Max Strus and Kevin Love each scored 18 points and Tyler Hero added 15 points for the Heat. Miami won despite allowing Dallas to shoot a season-best 61%.
“I wouldn’t necessarily have drawn it that way,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Luka Doncic was once again on form for Dallas, finishing the season with 42 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 31 points and Kyrie Irving added 23 points and eight assists for the Mavericks.
“Winning is winning,” Butler said. I don’t like the fact that they shot 61%. But I like the fact that in the end we won the game.
Luka Doncic was again great for Dallas, but in the end he couldn’t salvage the win against Miami
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) defends Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the first half
The Mavs have been 7-0 this season when they have shot at least 54%, and are down to 30-2 all time, including playoffs, in games where they have shot at least 60%.
“Our defense just wasn’t there,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd. “Can’t get stopped.”
Both teams went to the Conference Finals last season; The Heat are trying to get out of the playoffs, and the Mavericks are trying to get a chance at the playoffs.
The win puts Miami (41-37) closer to ensuring no worse than the No. 7 seed and the most advantageous spot in tournament play in the Eastern Conference. The Heat lead both No. 8 Atlanta (38-39) and No. 9 Toronto (also 38-39) by two and a half games.
Miami moved within 1 1/2 games of No. 6 Brooklyn (42-35). Even if the Heat wins 45, the Nets — who hold the tiebreaker head-to-head — will only need to go 3-2 in their last five games to make sure they finish before Miami.
Meanwhile, it’s a huge blow to Dallas (37-41).
The Mavs fell a complete rematch from No. 10-ranked Oklahoma City (38-40) in the race for the last Western Conference play-off spot, and even worse, the Thunder own a head-to-head tiebreaker. Dallas is now two games behind ninth-ranked Minnesota (39-39) and only half a game ahead of 12th-ranked Utah (36-41).
“I just have to play hard, play desperate and anything can happen,” Hardaway said. Anything can happen.
Miami changed its starting lineup, in part out of necessity. Center Bam Adebayo did not play due to a right groin bruise, so Zeller — who started a game for the first time since May 15, 2021 for Charlotte — took his place and Strauss took over the starting spot Love has held since joining the Heat in February.
The movements paid instant dividends. Strus was 3-for-3, all on 3-pointers, on the 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 in the first half.
“K-Love has always been, and always has been, about winning,” said Butler. “As long as we win he won’t complain.”
All of this helped add up to the third-highest halftime scoring in Heat history: Miami led 76-64 at halftime, extended the lead to 18 in the second half—and then had to hold out in the final moments anyway.
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks
122- Ayed Al-Qahtani 114
Brandon Ingram scored 36 points, got the fans to their feet with a combo of clutch shots, jumping midrange, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-114 Saturday night.
Jonas Valancionas scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for New Orleans (40-38), who won for the seventh time in eight games and snatched half the Clippers (41-38) to finish sixth in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles lost for the second time in a row despite getting 40 points from Kawhi Leonard, who played 41 minutes in New Orleans after being restricted to 18 minutes during a loss in Memphis the night before in order to be more prepared against the heavily pursued Pelicans.
CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III each added 19 points for New Orleans, which trailed for most of the first three quarters but maintained a slim lead throughout the fourth quarter.
Russell Westbrook scored 24 points and nine assists for the Clippers. Ivica Zubak added 15 points and Norman Powell 12 for Los Angeles.
Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dunks Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell
