The Miami Heat squealed with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday nightbut it was his performance at the foul line that stole the show
Miami set an NBA record in a 112-111 victory, going 40-for-40 in the charity strip, surpassing a 39-for-39 performance by the Utah Jazz in 1982.
Victor Oladipo and Gabe Vincent of the Heat court against the Oklahoma City Thunder at FTX Arena on January 10, 2023 in Miami.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Jimmy Butler completed a three-point play with 12.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, giving Miami the lead and setting an NBA record in the process.
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«It’s a normal Tuesday night for the Miami Heat,» Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. «I think now is when we feel most alive, when everything just happens and when all our competitive juices come out. That’s the team we can all identify with. That’s the team I like.»
Butler was responsible for 23 of Miami’s 40 free throwsscoring 35 points on 6-17 shooting from the ground.
Heat’s Jimmy Butler shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 10, 2023 in Miami.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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Butler’s 23 hits from the line without a miss tied for the second-most of all time, falling one shy of James Harden’s and Dirk Nowitzki’s record of 24 straight without a miss.
«I’m more excited that we won the game by one point,» Butler told reporters after the game when asked about the NBA record from the free throw line.
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Heat’s Jimmy Butler drives against Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at FTX Arena on January 10, 2023 in Miami.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Miami’s narrow victory followed a one-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sundayimproving the Heat to 22-20 on the season.
«We always talk about finding a way to win… This is a good start,» Butler said.
Associated Press contributed to this report