Jimmy Butler shoots 23-for-23 from the road because the Warmth make all 40 makes an attempt as a staff, breaking the earlier mark by one.
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler took the final free throw of the evening, then bent his knees a bit and virtually appeared not sure what would occur because the ball made its technique to the rim.
Seems, it was excellent — and so was Miami on Tuesday evening.
The Warmth set an NBA file by making all 40 of their free throws, the final of these approaching Butler’s three-point play with 12.9 seconds left, and rallied within the ultimate moments to beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 112-111.
Miami topped the 39-for-39 effort by Utah towards Portland on Dec. 7, 1982.
“It’s only a regular Tuesday evening for the Miami Warmth,” Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned. “I feel that is after we really feel most alive, when the whole lot simply occurs and when all of our aggressive juices get on the market. That’s the staff all of us can relate to. That’s the staff I like.”
The Warmth set a brand new NBA file of their win over OKC, going 40-40 from the free throw line.
They wanted each make within the 112-111 victory.
Jimmy Butler led the best way going 23-23 from the stripe, tying Dominique Wilkins for the 2nd-most made FT with out a miss in NBA historical past. pic.twitter.com/k8uN1EuBQl
— ESPN Stats & Information (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2023
Right here’s simply a few of what occurred Tuesday — the Warmth performed with out six injured gamers, together with 4 starters; backup Warmth middle Dewayne Dedmon was ejected after arguing together with his personal staff and smacking a therapeutic massage gun onto the court docket throughout play from the sideline; Miami had a six-point possession within the fourth quarter; and Josh Giddey had a triple-double for the Thunder.
Oh, and the file from the road.
“Credit score them, to begin with, for that,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “That’s spectacular.”
Butler scored 35 factors and was 23 for 23 from the road, tying the second-most makes with out a miss in NBA historical past. James Harden made 24 with out a miss for Houston on Dec. 3, 2019, and Dirk Nowitzki made 24 with out a miss for Dallas in a playoff sport towards the Thunder on Might 17, 2011. Dominique Wilkins additionally went 23 for 23 in a sport in 1992.
“We gained,” Butler mentioned. “Full staff effort. I’m happy with my guys.”
Max Strus scored 22 factors and Victor Oladipo had 19 for Miami. The Warmth had been with out 4 common starters — Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin — due to accidents.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 factors for the Thunder. Giddey completed with 18 factors, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the triple-double on an help organising Aaron Wiggins’ dunk for a 111-106 lead with 1:28 left.
Miami scored the ultimate six factors.
“No matter it takes to win,” Butler mentioned.
Miami led 89-88 going into the fourth, and with Butler on the bench — he had performed all the third quarter — the Thunder took benefit. They scored the primary six factors of the ultimate interval, taking their first lead of bigger than three factors when Tre Mann related on a jumper with 9:20 left for a 94-89 lead.
However a six-point possession gave Miami the lead again. Oladipo made a steal and Thunder middle Eugene Omoruyi was known as for a clear-path foul. Oladipo made each free throws, and on the continued Miami possession, Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer whereas getting fouled by Mann. Vincent made the free throw, and identical to that, a 96-91 deficit was a 97-96 lead.
“We all the time discuss discovering a technique to win. … It is a good begin to that,” Butler mentioned.
