Butler back, but Heat mediocrity continues in 133-113 loss to Jokic, Nuggets

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Jan 17, 2025

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MIAMI — This is when reality further hit home for the Miami Heat.

Mediocre without Jimmy Butler.

Mediocre with Jimmy Butler.

And, so, a 20-20 Miami Heat record one game from the midpoint of their season, even with Butler back after missing seven games due to a team suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

With Butler offering some offense, but not nearly enough else, the Heat fell, 133-113, Friday night at Kaseya Center, with their losing streak extended to three.

Inefficient with their defense and 3-point shooting, the Heat turned what could have been a night of high drama in Butler’s return instead to another example of an inability to compete against the elite.

Ultimately, there was no answer for the 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists of Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and the 30 points of Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.

Beyond 18 points from Butler, the Heat got 22 from Tyler Herro, 16 from Nikola Jovic and 16 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo.

Next up for the Heat is a Sunday matinee visit by Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:

— 1. Game flow: The Nuggets led 30-24 at the close of the opening period and 67-55 at halftime.

The Heat moved within nine in the third period, only to see the Nuggets respond with a 7-0 run on the way to a 98-86 lead entering the fourth.

From there, Denver moved to a 109-88 lead with 9:18 remaining, leaving little need or opportunity for Butler or other rotation components.

— 2. The Butler watch: Butler received a mix of cheers and jeers during introductions, when he was announced as the last of the team’s starters.

He played the opening 10:44 before going to the bench. He scored four points on 2-of-5 shooting, with no other statistics during that stretch – no rebounds, no assists, no steals, no blocked shots, no fouls, no turnovers.

He stood with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting at halftime, with his only statistic other than shots or points being a turnover with 1:57 left in the second period.

His first rebound came 38 seconds into the third period. His first assist came with 6:21 left in the third period.

He closed with three rebounds and two assists in his 33:15.

— 3. Rotation revision: With Butler back, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reverted to the starting lineup of Herro, Butler, Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Haywood Highsmith.

That moved Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Terry Rozier back to the bench.

It also took part-time contributor Alec Burks out of the mix.

All the while, Spoelstra continued to create minutes to play neophyte big men Kel’el Ware and Jovic side by side.

That, in turn, left Haywood Highsmith with only 13:21 of action in the first half.

— 4. Herro ball: Herro was up to 14 points at halftime, the lone Heat player with more than 10.

He stood at 2 of 4 on 3-pointers at that juncture, with the rest of his teammates 2 of 14 from beyond the arc at that juncture.

Herro extended his career-best streak of games scoring in double figures to 69. His previous high was 38 in a row.

He closed 10 of 17 from the field, but just 2 of 7 on 3-pointers, with five rebounds and four assists.

— 5. Joker time: The Heat’s best hope arguably was when Jokic was listed as questionable pregame due to a sprained right elbow.

But no sooner did he take the court with a sleeve on that arm than it rekindled the memories of the Heat being without answers against Jokic in the 2023 NBA Finals, as well as just about every other matchup the Heat put Adebayo up against him.

He already had his triple-double with his 10th assist with 1:22 remaining in the third period, a blind, over-the-hard feed for an Aaron Gordon tomahawk dunk.

He closed at 9 of 12 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line.