MIAMI — — Jimmy Butler took over late, and it was exactly what the Miami Heat needed.
Butler scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson each scored 18 and the Heat topped the Detroit Pistons 118-110 on Tuesday night.
Terry Rozier scored 17 points, Caleb Martin scored 15 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 11 for the Heat, who are 11-3 in their last 14 games. Miami (35-26) climbed to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, half a game behind No. 4 Orlando (36-26) and No. 5 New York (36-26), plus a break in tie ahead of No. 7 Philadelphia (35-26). 35-26).
“These next 21 games, there’s probably going to be a lot of them,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s how it’s happening right now. Everyone is fighting for a playoff spot.
The biggest shot came with 22 seconds remaining, when Butler scored his first and only 3-pointer of the night to seal the game. Butler now has at least a steal and a 3 in 14 consecutive games, the longest streak of his career and one game behind Rafer Alston (2004) for the longest streak in Heat history.
Butler is shooting a career-best 51% from the field by far with 46% from 3-point range and 86% from the line.
“We’re doing whatever’s necessary now,” Spoelstra said.
Cade Cunningham scored 23 points for Detroit, which fell into a tie with Washington for the NBA’s worst record at 9-52. Simone Fontecchio scored 22 for the Pistons, Jaden Ivey scored 16, Jalen Duren scored 14 and Isaiah Stewart added 13.
Miami was again without Tyler Herro (foot) and Kevin Love (heel), and Josh Richardson (shoulder) will undergo season-ending surgery on Wednesday. Help is on the way; The Heat agreed to terms Tuesday with veteran guard Patty Mills, with that deal likely to be finalized Wednesday.
Detroit will play nine of its next ten games at home, including each of the next six – a streak capped by back-to-back games against the Heat on March 15-17.
“We feel like we’re a lot better than we were at the beginning of the year. It’s just a matter of continuity,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “We feel like the guys we have, as they learn the league and learn how to defend…that’s part of the maturation and development process of young players.”
The teams hadn’t met since the season’s opening night, a 103-102 win at Miami in which Cunningham immediately bounced a 3-pointer to the rim at the buzzer. And this one was almost just as annoying for Miami.
It was 61-60 Miami at halftime. The Heat led by 10 after the first quarter, but Detroit controlled much of the second quarter and the Pistons led by four in the third – before Miami rattled off 15 straight points.
This push only lasted 2 1/2 minutes. Rozier hit two 3-pointers during the run, including the one that capped the burst and gave Miami an 80-69 lead midway through the third.
Detroit was undeterred, coming within one possession – three points or less – seven times the rest of the time. But the Pistons never regained the advantage; Robinson made a 3-pointer, the first of the fourth quarter in 10 tries for Miami, with 2:05 left for a 111-105 lead, then Butler sealed it with five straight points in the final minute.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Martin said.
FOLLOWING
Pistons: Host Brooklyn on Thursday night.
Heat: Visit Dallas Thursday evening.
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