Jimmy Butler scores 23 as Heat hold off Cavaliers 100-97

CLEVELAND(AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo added 18 pointsand 11 rebounds and the Miami Heat showed their experience down thestretch in a 100-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesdaynight.

Caleb Martinscored 18 points and matched his career high with 10 rebounds, andTyler Herro also scored 18 for the Heat, who moved within 1 1/2games of the fifth-place Cavs in the Eastern Conferencestandings.

After 45up-and-down minutes, the Heat made key plays when it matteredmost.

“When it getsto the last three of four minutes, because of the experiences we’vehad, guys feel comfortable enough to execute under that kind ofpressure,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Cavs coachJ.B. Bickerstaff said Miami’s maturity was the difference.

“That’s whythey are who they are,” he said.

Butler, whohas been slowed by injuries for much of the season, hit a shortjumper to put the Heat up 98-93 with 1:23 left, and his free throw— following a huge offensive rebound by Adebayo — kept the Heatahead by five with 12 seconds left.

DariusGarland’s 3-pointer brought the Cavs within 99-97 with 8.7 secondsremaining. Cleveland fouled Butler with 7.3 seconds left, and hesplit his free throws, giving Cleveland a chance to tie.

All-Starstarter Donovan Mitchell rushed the ball up the floor but hiscontested 3-pointer at the buzzer was short.

“They knowwho to key in on at that point,” Bickerstaff said. “But I thought(Mitchell) did a great job of creating separation and getting ashot off. I thought we got as good a look as we can at thatpoint.”

Butler wasmost pleased by Miami’s defense in the closing minutes.

“We still hadlapses, but I’m glad those lapses did not cost us the game,” hesaid. “We got stops down the stretch when we needed to.”

Evan Mobleyscored 19 points, Mitchell had 16 and Jarrett Allen added 14 pointsand 11 rebounds for the Cavs, who dropped to 21-6 at home.

Mitchell andDarius Garland were a combined 4 of 19 on 3-pointers.

The NBA’stop-rated defensive team, the Cavs came out looking to makeeverything difficult for the Heat offensively.

Miami had noearly answers and started 2 of 10 from the floor with fiveturnovers in the first five minutes, but Butler scored 11 points inthe quarter while helping his teammates settle in.

“We weredisjointed at the beginning of the game, and I think Jimmy sensedthat and went to work,” Spoelstra said.

HEATCHECK

Miami hasbeen one of the league’s steadiest franchises, missing the playoffsjust three times since 2008.

It’s a modelCleveland would like to follow.

Bickerstaffadmires both the Heat’s consistency and ability to adapt. Hecredits Miami president Pat Riley and Spoelstra for leading theway.

“They have aphilosophy and are flexible enough to change with the times andkeep people wanting to be a part of it,” he said. “They have corevalues they believe in and then they do a great job of acquiringtalent but finding talent in the cracks.

“Their bestplayers aren’t always No. 1 picks. They have been able to work freeagency, G League, later draft picks and turn it into talent becausetheir player development staff is so good.”

TIP-INS

Heat: Butlerand Adebayo will likely be named All-Star reserves when the rostersare announced Thursday. Butler has been an All-Star six times,while Adebayo has only been selected once. ... Adebayo has scoredin double figures in all 47 games this season, and 63 in a rowdating to last season. Only Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and LeBronJames have had longer streaks in team history.

Cavaliers: GRicky Rubio had eight points, five rebounds and five assists in 17minutes. He’s beginning to look more comfortable after returningfrom knee surgery. ... Kevin Love (back spasms) sat out his fourthconsecutive game. ... Mobley was chosen to play in the 2023 JordanRising Stars at All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City later thismonth.