Jimmy Butler closes out Heat victory over Raptors
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat puts up a shot during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on February 11, 2021 in Houston, Texas. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP
Jimmy Butler had 27 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals, leading the host Miami Heat to a 116-108 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.
It was the fourth straight win for the Heat, who also got a big game from Bam Adebayo (19 points, 12 rebounds and four assists).
Article continues after this advertisementToronto’s Kyle Lowry, who missed four consecutive games due to thumb and ankle ailments, returned from the injured list and had 24 points and eight assists. Toronto’s Fred VanVleet had 24 points and seven assists.
However, the Raptors lost their second straight game after a four-game winning streak.
😤 @JimmyButler leads the @MiamiHEAT to their 4th-straight W!
27 PTS | 8 REB | 10 AST | 3 STL pic.twitter.com/4S2euFUaKd
— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2021
Miami’s Goran Dragic, who had missed nine straight games due to an ankle injury, returned and scored 15 points off the bench.
The Heat were without Tyler Herro (hip).
Toronto, thanks to 9-for-14 3-point shooting and 12 points from Lowry, led 35-32 after the first quarter. The Raptors shot 60 percent overall in the period.
However, Miami built a 15-point lead in the second quarter before settling for a 66-56 advantage at the break.
The Heat established their lead by attacking the rim. In the first half, they outscored the Raptors in the paint 22-14, and they were also plus-6 on the offensive glass.
Toronto came out hot in the third quarter, using a 12-2 run to tie the score at 68. But Miami responded, taking a 92-85 lead into the fourth.
VanVleet made a spectacular two-point shot to end the third quarter. He was knocked off the ball, hit the deck, got up, regained possession and sank an 18-footer at the buzzer.
Bam had his hands all over this W 💥
19 Pts / 12 Rebs / 4 Asts / 1 Blk / 1 Stl pic.twitter.com/WL3nS57wZK
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 25, 2021
Butler then took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points. He also had a key assist that led to an Adebayo bucket with 32 seconds left, giving Miami a 114-106 lead.
For the game, Miami shot 46.2 percent from the floor, including 17-for-38 (44.7 percent) on 3-point attempts. Toronto shot 50 percent from the floor, including 20-for-44 (45.5 percent) from long range.
Miami was also plus-8 on offensive rebounds, plus-10 on paint points and plus-11 on made free throws.
