Jimmy Butler inspires Heat to victory as Mavs’ NBA play-off hopes fade
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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (left) and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during the second quarter at Miami-Dade Arena.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MIAMI – Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called their defence non-existent after Jimmy Butler scored 35 points to help the Miami Heat snap their three-game losing streak in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The Heat inflicted a damaging 129-122 win over the Mavs on Saturday, with talisman Butler producing a typically dynamic performance, scoring from 12-of-16 attempts while laying on 12 assists, to steer them to a precious victory.
Cody Zeller provided offensive support with 20 points while Kevin Love and Max Strus added 18 points apiece, with Tyler Herro finishing with 15.
With his team shooting a season-best 61 per cent, Kidd pinpointed his team’s shaky defence as the reason for the loss.
“It wasn’t the offensive side of the ball, it was the defensive side. Our defence was non-existent,” he said.
“We were trying to get stops and then when we did, we’d just throw it away. We’ve got to do a better job of keeping the ball.”
Miami improved to 41-37 and remain seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, one win behind the sixth-placed Brooklyn Nets as they chase an automatic play-off berth.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was pleased that his team had been able to rediscover their offensive rhythm after managing to score only 92 points in both their previous games.
“They’re a very good offensive team – we knew we were going to have to put some points on the board,” Spoelstra said.
“We knew we’d have to put some pressure on them offensively and, during the course of the game, we were able to get them on their heels, and Jimmy controlled the tenor and tempo of the game.”
But while Miami celebrated, Dallas were left contemplating another painful loss that leaves them closer to the ignominy of missing the post-season one year after reaching the Western Conference Finals.
The Mavs remain 11th with a 37-41 record and are now one game behind the 10th-placed Oklahoma City Thunder, who occupy the last of the play-in berths.
Crucially, Oklahoma City own the head-to-head tiebreak with Dallas, meaning that they will still be ahead of the Mavericks even if they draw level on wins.
Dallas, who have lost six of their last seven games, have just four regular season games left to force their way into the play-offs.
Luka Doncic led the Dallas charge in Miami with 42 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while Tim Hardaway Jr finished with 31 points. Kyrie Irving had 23 points but struggled to stamp his influence on the contest.
“Timmy (Hardaway), Ky (Irving) and Luka kept us in the ball game,” Kidd said. “We just didn’t get any production from the bench tonight.”
In Saturday’s other NBA game, the New Orleans Pelicans maintained their play-off momentum with a 122-114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Pelicans are seventh in the West on 40-38, half a game behind the sixth-placed Clippers. AFP
