that of Utah Keyonte George scored an impressive 31 points, falling just two short of his career high earlier in February. George’s accurate shooting, especially from beyond the arc where he made 6 of 14, kept the Jazz competitive, as they connected on 14 of 35 attempts from deep. Lauri Markkanen also had a strong outing for Utah, contributing 25 points while shooting efficiently both from the field and at the free throw line, where he made 11 of 12 attempts. Additionally, Markkanen dished out a team-high six assists.
Despite going on a 9-0 run just before halftime and starting the second half with a seven-point lead to take an 11-point lead in the third quarter, the Jazz were unable to maintain their advantage as Miami rallied behind Butler’s heroism. Butler took over in crucial moments, responding to Utah’s attempts to close the gap, including a crucial three-point play with 1:11 left to seal the Heat’s victory.
Along with Butler’s stellar performance, Bam Adebayo contributed 23 points and seven rebounds for Miami, while Terry Rozier added 14 points and eight assists. Duncan Robinson, starting in place of the injured Tyler Herro, scored 12 points and six assists. The Heat’s offense clicked with 33 of their 46 field goals coming off assists, showcasing their teamwork and ball movement.
Miami also received valuable contributions from Caleb Martin, who scored 18 points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr., who added 12 points coming off the bench. Martin was particularly effective from beyond the arc, shooting 4 of 6 from three-point range.
For the Jazz, Collin Sexton and John Collins each scored 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Miami’s balanced attack. Taylor Hendricks grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds for Utah, but their eighth loss in the last nine games highlighted their struggles closing out close contests.
(Contributions from Reuters)
