DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic wasn’t supposed to be here. Neither was Jimmy Butler, for that matter.
Jokic was drafted behind 40 other players in 2014. Butler was drafted behind 29 others in 2011.
PARIS (AP) — To hear tennis star Coco Gauff tell it, basketball star Jimmy Butler assured her his Miami Heat would make it to the NBA Finals before they were guaranteed of so much as participating in the playoffs.
NEW YORK (AP) — Miami's Jimmy Butler was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for not participating in required media availability after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Butler did not talk to reporters following the Heat's 128-102 victory on Sunday that gave them a 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics.
BOSTON (AP) — Jimmy Butler went forehead-to-forehead with the Boston Celtics, and the Heat are heading back to Miami with an opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals.
Butler scored 27 points, hitting back-to-back buckets to tie the game and give Miami the lead, and the eighth-seeded Heat left Boston with a 111-105 victory Friday night and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
BOSTON (AP) — The Miami Heat were in need of a calming presence following a sluggish start to their latest conference finals showdown with the Boston Celtics.
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was the last Miami player on the practice floor Tuesday, getting shot after shot after shot into the air.
Everyone else was long gone, getting ready for the flight to Boston for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals — a series that starts Wednesday night.
Miami’s Jimmy Butler (ankle) cleared to return for Game 3
May 6, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was cleared to return to the Miami Heat lineup on Saturday, in time for him to play in Game 3 of his team’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks.
Heat still waiting to see if Butler can play in Game 3
May 4, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — NBA playoff scoring leader Jimmy Butler was with the Miami Heat for their film session Thursday, without any clarity yet if his sprained ankle will be healed enough for him to play in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks on Saturday.
Heat’s Butler out for Game 2 against Knicks; Randle back
May 2, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Butler was sidelined for the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night because of a sprained right ankle.
Julius Randle was back for the Knicks after missing Game 1 of the series with a sprained left ankle.
Jimmy Butler does things his way, leads Heat into 2nd round
April 28, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler is different.
Some players hit beaches over All-Star break; Butler went to Argentina to watch tennis and learn about coffee.
For Heat, the legend of ‘Playoff Jimmy’ continues to grow
April 25, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler insists that Playoff Jimmy — the moniker that he has now, whether he wants it or not — isn’t a thing.
His play shows otherwise.
He has scored 45 or more points five times in his NBA career, and three of those games have come in the playoffs — the most recent one coming Monday in a performance for all-time.
Butler scores 56, Heat stun Bucks 119-114 for 3-1 lead
April 25, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler had the game of his life, and the Miami Heat had a comeback for the ages.
Butler scored 56 points — tying the fourth-best scoring performance ever in an NBA playoff game — and the Heat roared back from 14 points down in the final quarter to stun the Milwaukee Bucks 119-114 on Monday night to put the NBA's top overall seed on the brink of early elimination.
Garland scores 25 points, Cavaliers hold off Heat 104-100
March 9, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff called it grit. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called it disruptiveness.
Whatever it was, it worked for the Cavaliers.
Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 18 and the Cavaliers assured themselves of a second consecutive winning season with a 104-100 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Butler scores 26, Heat bench adds 59 in 130-128 win vs Hawks
March 7, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Miami got the breathing room it needed over Atlanta. And now the Heat will take a bit of momentum into trying to chase down others in the Eastern Conference.
Jimmy Butler had 26 points, Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin combined to score 43 off the bench, and the Heat held off the Atlanta Hawks 130-128 on Monday night.
Adebayo scores 30, Young has season-low 8 as Heat beat Hawks
March 5, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo scored 30 points and the Miami Heat held Trae Young to a season-low eight points in a 117-109 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Tyler Herro added 20 points, while Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin finished with 15 apiece for the Heat, who extended their lead over the Hawks to 1 ½ games for seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Randle scores 43, Knicks win 8th straight, top Heat 122-120
March 4, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Here's just some of the things Julius Randle did in the final seconds Friday night: He lost the ball, fell to the floor, sent New York coach Tom Thibodeau sprawling and collided with a security guard.
Maxey scores 27, 76ers roll past Heat 119-96 without Embiid
March 2, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Joel Embiid got the night off. The Philadelphia 76ers didn't need him anyway.
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, James Harden added 23 and the 76ers took control early on the way to a 119-96 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Embiid and the 76ers face the Heat
February 28, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia 76ers (39-21, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (33-29, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Miami Heat.
Butler’s acrobatic layup, 23 points lead Heat past 76ers
February 28, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Butler hit an acrobatic reverse layup in the final minutes, and his 23 points led five Miami players in double figures as the Heat edged the Philadelphia 76ers 101-99 on Monday night.
Williams, Hornets send Heat to 4th straight defeat 108-103
February 26, 2023 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Gordon Hayward scored 21 points, rookie center Mark Williams had a huge game with 18 points and 20 rebounds — both career highs — and the surging Charlotte Hornets defeated the Miami Heat 108-103 on Saturday night for their season-best fourth straight win.
Miami faces Charlotte, looks to halt 3-game slide
February 25, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (32-28, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Charlotte Hornets (18-43, 14th in the Eastern Conference)
Charlotte, North Carolina; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Hornets -4.5
Butler and the Heat take on conference foe Brooklyn
February 14, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (32-26, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Brooklyn Nets (33-24, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets host Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in Eastern Conference action.
Nikola Jokic scores 27, Nuggets hold off Heat 112-108
February 14, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — No team came into Monday night having allowed fewer points in the paint per game this season than Miami.
Nikola Jokic wasn't bothered.
The two-time reigning MVP made the most of every opportunity, finishing with 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting and leading the Denver Nuggets past the Heat 112-108 — snapping Miami's eight-game home winning streak.
Heat use balanced scoring, rally to beat Magic 107-103 in OT
February 12, 2023 GMTORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler added 22 points and seven rebounds and the Miami Heat rallied to beat the Orlando Magic 107-103 in overtime on Saturday night.
Gabe Vincent, who finished with 20 points, opened OT with a 3-pointer.
Butler, Heat to visit Banchero, Magic
February 11, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (31-25, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (23-33, 13th in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Magic -1.5
Butler’s dunk at end gives Heat 97-95 win over Rockets
February 11, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The play was drawn up by assistant coach Chris Quinn during a Miami Heat scrimmage at the NBA restart bubble in 2020. A lob to the rim off an inbounds pass, and the result was a Jimmy Butler dunk.
Adebayo scores 38, Heat hold off sliding Pacers 116-111
February 9, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo entered this season wanting more shots. The Miami Heat gave him those opportunities, and are thrilled at how it's working out.
Miami's All-Star center tied his season high with 38 points, Jimmy Butler added 25 and the Heat held off the Indiana Pacers 116-111 on Wednesday night to snap a two-game slide.
Antetokounmpo has triple-double; Bucks win 7th straight
February 5, 2023 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the short-handed Miami Heat 123-115 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory.
Butler, Heat take on the Knicks
February 1, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (29-23, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (27-25, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat take on Julius Randle and the New York Knicks on Thursday.
Jimmy Butler scores 23 as Heat hold off Cavaliers 100-97
February 1, 2023 GMTCLEVELAND (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Miami Heat showed their experience down the stretch in a 100-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Rozier, Washington help Hornets rally past Heat 122-117
January 29, 2023 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Terry Rozier scored 31 points, P.J. Washington had 27 and the Charlotte Hornets stopped Miami's three-game win streak with a 122-117 victory over the Heat on Sunday.
LaMelo Ball scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Charlotte improved to 7-16 at home.
Heat rally again, top Magic 110-105 to close 3-0 homestand
January 28, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo has a theory. All these close games that the Miami Heat are playing now, in his mind, are providing valuable lessons to draw upon later this season.
And the fact that they're winning a lot of those games right now is an added bonus.
Herro scores 26, Heat come from 16 down, top Pelicans 100-96
January 22, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — It was Kids Day in Miami, so it made sense that the youngest Heat starter would lead the way.
And the oldest member of the Heat rotation came up big, too.
Tyler Herro scored a game-high 26 points, Kyle Lowry had nine of his 17 in the final 3:03 — with the game on the line — and Miami rallied to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 100-96 on Sunday.
Bam Adebayo scores 26 points, Heat beat Pelicans 124-98
January 19, 2023 GMTNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bam Adebayo scored 26 points and the Miami Heat led comfortably from the first quarter on in a 124-98 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
“We played great basketball for the entire game,” said Adebayo, who made 11 of 15 shots in about 30 minutes on the court.
Murray’s 28 help hot-shooting Hawks hold off Heat, 121-113
January 17, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Dejounte Murray scored 12 of his 28 points in the final period as the Atlanta Hawks held off Miami's comeback attempt and beat the Heat 121-113 on Monday for their third straight win.
Vincent leads Heat to 2nd straight win over Bucks
January 14, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Gabe Vincent scored 27 points, Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 13 rebounds and the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 111-95 Saturday.
Victor Oladipo added 20 points and Jimmy Butler had 16 for the Heat.
Short-handed Heat rally, top short-handed Bucks, 108-102
January 13, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat were short-handed. The Milwaukee Bucks were short-handed.
The Heat got the better of it all.
Gabe Vincent scored a career-best 28 points, Bam Adebayo had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Heat beat the Bucks 108-102 in a game in which at least five would-be starters were out for various reasons.
Butler, Heat set NBA free throw record, beat OKC 112-111
January 11, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler took the last free throw of the night, then bent his knees a bit and almost seemed unsure what would happen as the ball made its way to the rim.
Nets’ Durant out at least 2 weeks with sprained right knee
January 9, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant has a sprained right knee and the Brooklyn Nets say he will miss at least two weeks.
Durant was hurt Sunday during the third quarter of the Nets' 102-101 victory in Miami after the Heat's Jimmy Butler fell into his knee.
Durant injures right knee before Nets edge Heat 102-101
January 9, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Royce O’Neale’s putback with 3.2 seconds left put Brooklyn to stay, and the Nets beat the Miami Heat 102-101 on Sunday night in a game where Kevin Durant left early with a right knee injury.
Nets top Heat 102-101, lose Durant to right knee injury
January 9, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Brooklyn got another win. Now the Nets have to hope for good news on Kevin Durant.
Royce O'Neale's putback with 3.2 seconds left put Brooklyn to stay, and the Nets beat the Miami Heat 102-101 on Sunday night in a game where Durant left in the third quarter with a right knee injury.
Durant leaves Nets game in Miami with right knee injury
January 9, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Brooklyn forward Kevin Durant left in the second half of the Nets' game in Miami on Sunday night with a right knee injury.
Durant appeared to be hurt when Heat forward Jimmy Butler fell into the Nets' forward on a drive late in the third quarter.
Heat get past Lakers 112-98, climb over .500 at 18-17
December 29, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The math wasn't hard. The Miami Heat got a lot of points off turnovers, and nearly went the whole game without giving up any.
It was the difference.
Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, Bam Adebayo added 23 points and 14 rebounds and the Heat moved over .500 by topping the Los Angeles Lakers 112-98 on Wednesday night.
Heat hold off Timberwolves 113-110, get back to .500 mark
December 27, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Close games are becoming the norm for the Miami Heat.
Max Strus scored 19 points, Kyle Lowry added 18 points and nine assists, and the Heat got back to .500 by holding off the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-110 on Monday night.
Bulls snap 4-game slide, top short-handed Heat 113-103
December 21, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The only yells in the Chicago locker room were happy ones.
Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and the Bulls stopped a four-game slide by beating the short-handed Miami Heat 113-103 on Tuesday night.
Devin Booker scores 58 in Suns’ comeback win over Pelicans
December 18, 2022 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored a season-high 58 points, using one of the best scoring efforts of his career to nearly single-handedly push the Phoenix Suns past the New Orleans Pelicans 118-114 on Saturday night.
Butler, Adebayo lead Heat past Spurs in Mexico City
December 18, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Maybe it was the grasshoppers or the tequila, perhaps the combination of both, but the altitude of Mexico City did not affect Jimmy Butler.
Butler scored 15 of his 26 points in the second half and the Miami Heat extended their winning streak to four, beating the San Antonio Spurs 111-101 on Saturday in the first NBA game in Mexico City since 2019.
Herro hits 10 3-pointers, scores career-high 41 to lead Heat
December 16, 2022 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro matched the Miami record with 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 41 points to help the Heat beat the Houston Rockets 111-108 on Thursday night.
A night after making nine 3-pointers and scoring 35 points in a victory at Oklahoma City, Herro became the fourth Heat player to hit 10 3s in a game — a feat most recently accomplished by Duncan Robinson on Dec.
Herro makes 9 3s, scores 35 points to lead Heat past Thunder
December 15, 2022 GMTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tyler Herro made a career-high nine 3-pointers, hit the go-ahead jumper and scored 35 points in the Miami Heat’s 110-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
Butler’s late flurry helps Heat put away Pacers 87-82
December 13, 2022 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra thought his players turned back the clock Monday night.
It reminded Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle of an old Eastern Conference classic, too.
On Popovich’s coaching anniversary, Spurs top Heat 115-111
December 11, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Gregg Popovich got the perfect anniversary gift from his San Antonio Spurs.
Keldon Johnson scored 21 points, Romeo Langford added 19 and the San Antonio Spurs celebrated the 26th anniversary of Popovich’s first game as coach by beating the Miami Heat 115-111 on Saturday.
Miami plays Minnesota on 6-game road skid
December 9, 2022 GMTMiami Heat (7-10, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-8, 10th in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Monday, 8 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Timberwolves -7.5
Adebayo has 31, Butler’s late surge leads Heat past Clippers
December 9, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo had 31 points and 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler added 26 points and the Miami Heat held off the Los Angeles Clippers 115-110 on Thursday night.
Tyler Herro scored 19 and Caleb Martin finished with 17 for the Heat.
Adebayo, Butler lift Heat past Kawhi-less Clippers 115-110
December 9, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo knows the Miami Heat have some work to do to climb up the standings.
Thursday was, he hopes, a good start.
Adebayo had 31 points and 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler added 26 points and the Heat held off the Los Angeles Clippers 115-110.
Pistons run away in 2nd half, embarrass Heat 116-96
December 7, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Detroit Pistons had a rare easy win.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 of his 31 points in the second half, Alec Burks added 18 and the Pistons ran away in the final two quarters to beat the Miami Heat 116-96 on Tuesday night.
Jones’ career-high 28 points lead Grizzlies past Heat 101-93
December 6, 2022 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tyus Jones had a career-high 28 points and 10 assists to lead the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies to a 101-93 victory over Miami Heat on Monday night.
Santi Aldama added 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks finished with 17 for Memphis, which played without leading scorer Ja Morant and several other key players.
Adebayo, Herro lead Heat over Celtics after Brown forces OT
December 3, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Bam Adebayo scored 28 points, Tyler Herro had 26 and the Miami Heat completed a split of two games in Boston, beating the Celtics 120-116 on Friday night after Jaylen Brown banked in a long 3-pointer to force overtime.
Butler returns to lineup for Heat against Celtics
December 3, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Miami leading scorer Jimmy Butler returned to the starting lineup Friday night for the Heat's rematch against the Boston Celtics.
The 33-year-old Butler was sidelined with a sore right knee for the previous seven games, including a 134-121 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night at TD Garden that was played in front of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who sat courtside adjacent to Boston’s bench.
Heat take on the Wizards on 4-game losing streak
November 22, 2022 GMTWashington Wizards (10-7, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (7-11, 12th in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Miami enters the matchup against Washington as losers of four straight games.
Anunoby has season-high 32 points, Raptors beat Heat 112-104
November 17, 2022 GMTTORONTO (AP) — O.G. Anunoby scored a season-high 32 points and matched his season high with 10 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors used a 21-0 run in the third quarter to beat Miami 112-104 on Wednesday night, ending the Heat’s winning streak at three.