Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 33 points and added 9 rebounds and 6 assists as the host Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 123-118, in overtime on Sunday, November 24 (Monday, November 25, Manila time).
Mavericks star Kyrie Irving had 27 points and 6 assists, while P.J. Washington added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Naji Marshall had 19 of his 20 points after the first half and Dereck Lively II had 14 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
Klay Thompson, who went 0-for-8 from the floor in Dallas’ 123-120 win at Denver on Friday, bounced back with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting.
The Mavericks played without reigning NBA scoring champ Luka Doncic (wrist).
Miami, which had been off since Monday, had double-doubles from Bam Adebayo (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Tyler Herro (18 points, 10 boards).
The Heat went ahead for good on Adebayo’s three-pointer that made it 120-118 with 2:54 left in overtime. Dallas missed its final seven shots after Lively’s dunk put the Mavericks up 118-117 with 3:21 remaining.
Adebayo finished 3-of-6 from three-point range for Miami, which shot 34.1% (14-of-41) from distance. Dallas hit 10 of 40 threes (25%) and shot 41.9% overall.
The Mavericks took their first lead since the opening quarter on Irving’s three-pointer that made it 106-103 with 4:34 left in regulation. Dallas clung to a one-point edge as Irving stepped to the free throw line with 8.2 seconds left, but he made just 1 of 2 to leave the door open for the Heat.
Butler capitalized with a dunk off a Duncan Robinson feed with 4.3 seconds remaining, and the game went to overtime after Spencer Dinwiddie’s long three-point attempt at the buzzer went in and out.
Dinwiddie finished with 7 points after shooting 1-for-12 overall, including 0-for-9 on three-pointers.
There were three lead changes in the first quarter that ended with Miami on top 33-28. The Mavericks missed their last six shots in the quarter, allowing the Heat to close the period on a 9-0 run.
Miami shot just 28.6% in the second quarter — including 1-of-10 on 3-pointers — but still entered halftime leading 56-51.
Just like the second quarter (23-23), the third period was played to a draw (33-33), leaving the Heat with an 89-84 lead heading into the fourth. – Rappler.com
