With 15 seconds on the clock, Jimmy Butler watched from the corner as Terry Rozier took his defender off the dribble and back into a 3-point basket.
The Miami Heat were up by as many as 11, but the Cleveland Cavaliers came roaring back to force another deciding game. The Heat needed the win to take the lead on their four-game road trip.
As Rozier’s shot crossed the net, Butler just watched — because that was all he had to do. Even on a night when the Miami Heat were missing Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and Butler himself scored 30 points, his team didn’t need him to make the final shot.
That’s the beauty of having someone like Rozier, and that’s exactly what the Heat envisioned when they traded him in January.
“We needed another guy who could play and create something out of nothing,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s why we pursued him.” We have a group of guys who really thrive in those moments. We know we go to Jimmy’s a lot for lots of good reasons. But we wanted, especially while Tyler is away right now, to have another special guy who can create something out of nothing.
Rozier created something out of nothing twice in the final 90 seconds to put the match away. First, on a step-back 3 he was fouled on with 1:24 left to tie the game. Then again in this last moment. Rozier’s surge came after Miami had gone four minutes without scoring a field goal.
“We were a little stuck on this piece. And the retreat to his right, in the same way, was the end of time,” Spoelstra said. “These rooms are usually reserved for Jimmy. But it was very encouraging for all of us to have another guy who could make a big play in a pressure moment.
Rozier finished the night with 24 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter of the Miami game. Victory 107-104. His pull back it’s not something Heat fans have seen a lot, but they should see more as he gets more comfortable with his role in the offense.
“I put a lot of work into this,” Rozier said. “At the same time, I worked a lot during the summer. This is one of my favorite photos. When I do that, I’m in my bag.
Rozier was scoring 20 points per game in Charlotte before the Heat acquired him in January for Kyle Lowry and a future first-round pick, but it took him time to find his footing in Miami.
Rozier averaged 13.9 points on 38.8 percent shooting in his first 14 games, including a knee injury that kept him sidelined for 13 days in February.
Coaches and teammates continually encouraged Rozier to be himself. Spoelstra pushed him back up another 3 seconds.
“He didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes,” Spoelstra said. “But that’s why we wanted him here. He is a great performer, and he has been throughout his career.
Something clicked. Over his last eight games, Rozier has averaged 18.8 points on 44.7% shooting. When it came to the most important shot of the game, he wasn’t afraid to step on Butler’s toes. He didn’t even bother to look in her direction. He just backed up, got up and fired. No one was happier than Butler.
“Terry put on a show, man,” Butler said.
