Jimmy Butler leads Heat to late win against Pistons, 118-105

DETROIT (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 18 of his 27points in the fourth quarter and the Miami Heat avoided anembarrassing loss by rallying to beat the hapless Detroit Pistons118-105 on Tuesday night.

Miami (42-37) kept its chance of escaping the Play-In tournamentalive, but Detroit (16-63) made it tough before losing its 10thstraight and falling to 1-21 in its last 22 games.

“We had a lot of guys contribute to this win, but Jimmy did whatclosers do,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We just need to gethim the ball and we trust that he’s going to make the rightdecisions.

“That’s what he does.”

Gabe Vincent scored 22 points for the Heat while Bam Adebayo andTyler Herro had 18 apiece.

Jaden Ivey scored 30 points on 15 shots for the Pistons, whilefellow rookie Jalen Duren had 20 points and 14 rebounds.

“I’ve just been constantly working on my 3-point shot,” saidIvey, who was 4 for 6 from behind the arc. “I was getting down onmyself when I wasn’t making them earlier in the year, but that’schanged.”

The Heat led 80-79 at the start of the fourth quarter, butweren’t able to pull away from the NBA’s worst team. Back-to-back3-pointers by Cory Joseph put Detroit ahead 97-94 with 6:42 left,but Butler’s floater gave Miami a 100-99 edge with 4:35remaining.

Spoelstra started sending his defense hard at Ivey, and Detroitstruggled to adapt.

“Did you see what he was doing to us before we started blitzinghim?” Spoelstra asked. “He’s got so much speed and tonight he washitting his 3s and his mid-range shots, which makes him eventougher. He’s a special young talent.”

Butler made it 107-99 from the free throw line with 2:47 left,and after Ivey hit a tough banker, Butler’s three-point play gaveMiami a nine-point lead.

“He got to his right hand, and that’s what the coaches warned usabout before the game,” Ivey said.

Miami led by as many as 17 points in the second quarter, but thePistons narrowed the gap to 59-52 at the half. Gabe Vincent had 17points for the Heat while Ivey scored 15.

“Any time you get a win on the road, it feels good,” Vincentsaid.

Duren’s dunk put the Pistons up 60-59 at 3:10 of the third, butMiami scored the next 13 points. Detroit nearly regained the leadat the end of the period, but Eugene Omoruyi’s layup came justafter the buzzer.

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami has won seven of its last nine against Detroit,including both games in Michigan this season. ... Herro made bothfree throw attempts, extending his streak to 32, one short of hiscareer-best set in 2020.

Pistons: Ivey extended his franchise rookie record by scoring10-plus points in his 36th straight game. Dave Bing had streaks of33 and 32 in the 1966-67 season.

SPO’S MYSTERIES

During his postgame press conference, Spoelstra said Butler andIvey each remind him of players he’s seen a lot of in his coachingcareer, but wouldn’t divulge who he meant.

“I’m not giving any hints - you’ll have to figure it out,” hesaid when asked if he was comparing Butler to LeBron James orDwyane Wade. “I’ve told Jimmy, but that’s private between us.”

UP NEXT

Heat: Visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

Pistons: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.