Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) looks to pass as Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday March 2, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MIAMI — Every Jazz-Heat game in Miami over the past seven seasons has gone the same way. They were all close until the end.
And Miami wins.
Jimmy Butler scored 18 of his season-high 37 points in the third quarter, Bam Adebayo added 23 and the heat dominated the Jazz 126-120 Saturday night for its 10th victory in 13 games in the NBA.
“When Bam and Jimmy play with that competitive spirit and are connected from a competitive standpoint, our guys feel like we can beat anybody,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
When Jimmy plays like that, it’s over.
Season record 37 points, 25 in 2nd half ☕️ pic.twitter.com/ZhgbPsQYVm
– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 3, 2024
The Heat’s seven straight home wins against the Jazz have come, in order, by one, two, three, eight, three, four and now six points. Caleb Martin collected 18 points and Terry Rozier added 14 for Miami (34-26). Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each had 12.
“Jimmy got away from us, especially in the second half,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said.
Keyonte George scored 31 points and Lauri Markkanen had 25 for Utah. Collin Sexton and John Collins each scored 18 points, and Taylor Hendricks finished with 13 rebounds for the Jazz.
Butler had 36 points twice earlier this season. He was 3 for 3 on 3-pointers and had a steal, extending his streak of at least one 3-pointer and one steal to 13 straight games – the fourth-longest streak in the NBA this season and tying Tim Hardaway for second. -the longest such streak in Heat history. Rafer Alston played in 15 games for Miami in March 2004.
“We got stops down the stretch and Jimmy and I made some big plays in the fourth,” Adebayo said.
Bam saved the best for last, scoring 11 of his 23 points in the 4th quarter ???? pic.twitter.com/hEPLaU6nNT
– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 3, 2024
The heat were again without Tyler Herro, who missed his fourth straight game; the knee problem that kept him out is no longer a factor, but he is now sidelined with tendonitis in his right foot. Kevin Love was also out with a bruised right heel.
For Utah, Walker Kessler (right foot sprain) was out for the second straight game and Jordan Clarkson – the team’s third-leading scorer behind Markkanen and Sexton – was out due to illness.
The Jazz (27-34) are 11th in the Western Conference and entered the night 5 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the final play-in spot with 21 games remaining. Utah was 24-23 after winning at Charlotte on January 27. The Jazz are 3-11 since then, 0-6 away during that span.
“We continue to grow as a team,” George said. “We are still young. And that’s a phenomenal team we just played against.
It was Utah up four after one, Utah still up four at halftime and the teams were tied at 90-90 heading into the fourth. There were 11 ties, 21 lead changes and almost the entire game was played with teams within single digits of each other – the Jazz had an 11-point lead in the third quarter, for 26 seconds .
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Miami never led by more than five until Martin made a 3-pointer with 2:38 left for a 117-109 lead. He left after being inadvertently hit in the face by Butler as they went for a defensive rebound on the next possession.
NEXT SCHEDULE
Jazz: host Washington Monday night.
Heat: Host Detroit on Tuesday night.
