After the Miami Heat saw the Dallas Mavericks come back from a 14-point deficit to win 114-108 Thursday eveningone thing has become clear: Jimmy Butler can’t afford to take nights off.
Not when stars like Luka Doncic go for a 35-point triple-double.
Not when Tyler Herro is injured.
Not when the Heat are scrambling for a higher playoff seed to avoid the play-in game and avenge last year’s loss in the NBA Finals.
On Thursday, Butler finished with a season-high six turnovers and 14 points — his lowest since a Dec. 30 loss to the Jazz.
He was held scoreless in a third quarter in which the Heat were outscored 37-25 and was capped by a chest pass to Josh Green of the Mavericks. Although he scored eight in the fourth, none came in the final four minutes as the Heat trailed 101-100. The Mavericks took advantage and closed on a 14-7 run.
Butler has recently shown he can lead the Heat past non-playoff contenders such as the Pistons, Jazz and Trailblazers. But what about the toughest matchups? Thursday’s loss comes less than two weeks after a road loss to the Denver Nuggets. Butler scored 21 points in this affair, but more was needed.
Next comes another tough game: Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have the third-best home record (24-6) in the NBA and their 123.6 points per game are second-best. After facing Donic, the NBA’s leading scorer, they will have to stop the NBA’s second-leading scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Should fans be concerned if the Heat fall tonight and two games later to the Denver Nuggets at home because Butler didn’t erupt for more than 25 points? Not “missed the playoffs” worried, but “bounced during the play-in game worried” or “bounced back in the first round worried?”
Maybe.
That said, in an 82-game season, it’s easy to win too much with a few games. After all, we’re talking about “Playoff Jimmy.”
Beyond that, is it all too hard? Shouldn’t Bam Adebayo be held responsible for Thursday’s defeat? He didn’t make a single field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. What about the Heat who went cold by three after drilling on nine of their first 11 attempts?
Herro’s foot injury doesn’t help either. His shooting ability could have pulled the Heat out of droughts. Don’t let the 4-2 record without him or last year’s playoff run fool you — the Heat are better when he’s on the court. Also add injured Kevin Love to the mix. His replacements in Thomas Bryant and Haywood Highsmith totaled four points. Butler, meanwhile, appeared to have injured his wrist during a blocked dunk attempt in the third quarter. Even if it doesn’t seem serious.
Without Terry Rozier’s 27-point performance in Miami, Thursday could have easily been a lopsided loss. But that won’t happen every night, so now the pressure is on Butler more than ever.
Before the Mavericks confused him by shutting down the driving lanes on Thursday, Butler looked ready to enter that classic “Playoff Jimmy” mode. On Tuesday, he scored 26 points – 15 in the fourth quarter – to avoid an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Pistons. This followed a 37-point performance that put the Heat up on the Jazz.
Hell, he even recently added a reliable three-point shot to his arsenal. His 45.5% success rate this year is a career high and he has made three in 16 games in a row – another career high.
Then last night happened.
So now, while dealing with a sore wrist, a roster hampered by injuries and a shrinking championship window, Butler must prove that Thursday was an aberration and that “Playoff Jimmy” is back.
And here to stay.
