Despite a chaotic brawl between the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets, the Heat escaped with a huge 104-100 over Houston Sunday evening.
Miami battled back after being down as much as 12 with over five minutes left in the third quarter. In the final 17:18, however, it outscored Houston 43-27, shooting 50.0 percent (14-28) from the floor and 5-of-11 from 3-point range; Houston, meanwhile, shot just 27.0 percent (10-37) and 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from deep over that span.
The Heat got another valiant contribution from Tyler Herro, who scored a team-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 3-of-7 from 3-point range despite being ejected because of the brawl. He also leveraged his shot creation and gravity into a very good playmaking night, dishing nine dimes with six rebounds.
Nikola Jovic had one of his most complete games of the season in 31 minutes off the bench, scoring 18 points, with seven rebounds and six assists. He finished 5-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, one shy of his season-high in 3-point makes against Brooklyn on Dec. 23.
Terry Rozier had 14 points, albeit on 19 shots, while Haywood Highsmith filled the box score with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with eight rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block in 38 minutes. A bargain, he is!
Miami’s win Sunday marks the team’s ninth straight against the Rockets, including its sixth-straight inside Toyota Center.
Given the circumstances, missing both Jimmy Butler (returning to conditioning) and Duncan Robinson (foot), this is one of the biggest wins of the Miami Heat season, bar none. It was their fifth win against teams who are top-10 point differential and their seventh clutch victory of the season.
By the end, you could tell this team is ready to have Butler back. This is the type of win that can bring teams together ahead of a huge run. Will that happen with a consistently inconsistent Heat? The proof will be in the pudding!
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Heat’s Butler returns to practice, said doesn’t know if he wants to remain with Heat By Barry Jackson
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article296640749.html#storylink=cpy
I mean, he didn’t say he DOESN’T want to stay with the Heat. He was just noncommittal.
trade Jimmy
jimmys playing wedsnesday.could u imagine a team with jim bam ware tyler and lets take hh as our closing team in the playoffs.and terry nico jjj burks .bench team id take that team against any fn team.
That’s why Spo needs to let Ware play from here on in. The more he plays, the better he will get. If Nico continues gaining confidence, being aggressive and using his God given size, he can develop into a very solid rotation player or even a starter. Imagine a future Ware, Bam and Jovic front line? Throw in Butler at SG (as long as he is still around) and Herro at PG. Not bad.
there u go thats the lineup that can challenge boston and the other contenders.man this coach is so frustrating not pairing bam and ware.
Agree for Ware to play more minutes or feature frequently baring any injuries. There is no substitute for experience.
I went on the Houston site to ask what they thought of my trade scenario involving Houston, Miami and Sacto. There was only one guy who was half-way interested. Most feel Butler is a part-timer, too old, too expensive, on his way downhill and is not worth giving up anyone but their washed up players for. They don’t expect to compete for a championship this year. They aren’t 100% happy with the progress of some of their players, but they prefer to let their young core develop together. I have a feeling that’s what most teams think about trading for Butler. Too old, too expensive, not available enough.
Miami and Butler might just get stuck with each other for this season and next (if he realizes no team will pay him max money). Oh well, things could be worse. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
GO HEAT!!!
That’s a real interesting thing to do, hearing what other fan bases think. While some lesser known players are seen differently by fans who see them every day, players like Butler are known well by everyone, and the other fans see what we do.
a healthy jimmy is still the best player on the heat or for that matter houston.tys closing in on jim but jims all around game still better than tys.jimmy has the perfect nba body .u look at jordans body and jims almost the same.my nephew says that their related
Remember what Riley said about availability? Butler is failing miserably on that requirement. What team is going to want someone who is not playing regularly? He’s no good to the Heat or any other team if he is out 1/3 of the games (10 of 30 so far). Conditioning? WTF?
“We have not discussed that internally right now,” Riley said. “We have to look at making that kind of commitment and when do we do it. We don’t have to do it until 2025, actually. But we’ll see. We haven’t made a decision on it, and we haven’t really in earnest discussed it.”
“That’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night,” Riley said. “That’s the truth.”
“We’ve got a really good group of guys and the No. 1 issue is player availability and having your guys healthy to play every night,” Riley said. “And we have to wrap our arms around that notion.”
i think when it really matters jim will be there.he has to take kawhi leonard vacations if it means keeping him fresh for the playoffs so be it,i want him to be heat for life
hous off to a good start but there not a contender.youngens too young no outside shooting.van halen is the new lowry.only good player sengun.think balance of power has shifted to the east now.glad they dont want jim
I wouldn’t count OKC or Memphis out. Lakers are re-tooling too. Dallas is dangerous once the team is healthy. Don’t forget Denver.
P.S. How is any team going to be able to compete with OKC over the next 10 years? Check out their draft picks 2025-2031.
https://fanspo.com/nba/teams/oklahoma-city-thunder/21/draft-picks
san antonio with wembayama who is a top 5 player already and next year or 2 will be the best player,
You’re right. And, According to the story below, they have 36 upcoming draft picks.
https://airalamo.com/san-antonio-spurs-draft-picks-2025-2026-through-2031-full-list
Kd should’ve went back to okc instead of Phoenix, would of had a better chance at winning a title. after another season or two of epic failure status with the suns, he will probably want to leave .
KD screwed up when he left Golden State. His ego got in the way. Didn’t want to share the spotlight with Curry.
Well, easy. Look, what all that top picks brings to Philly. The curse.
Mismanagement. Compare that to OKC. Great management and coaching. One mistake may have been trading their #16 pick in 2021 to Houston for two future first round picks. Houston drafted Alperen Sengun with that pick.
That basket from Kawhi was clearly a curse. And all injuries till today. The result is Philly never made past second round.
Boston was in the same position then OKC about 10 years ago. They made it last year.
OKC will be good for 10 years, but they never win it all.
Yes, thats what I thought. Houston is not at that point yet. Their core is not ready yet.
“There was only one guy who was half-way interested”…..but they prefer to let their young core develop together.”
I dare say that these Houston Rockets fans who except for one guy was half -way interested are very smart guys indeed. I doff my hat off for them. And I believe the Heat should do the same. Let the young core.. Hero, Bam, JJJ, Ware, Larson etc develop together. So far the Heat is on course doing just that and have showed no interest in any trade scenarios this season. Congrats to the Heat management for being steadfast and not trading out its young core!
On a side note, of all 60 players drafted in 2017, only 4 players have been to the NBA finals. Bam Adebayo, Jasun Tatum, OG Annunoby and Derrick White and of the select 4 players, only Bam has been to the NBA finals twice.
Let the Heat continue with its young core and Bam the team captain. They will thrive very well, if allowed to grow and mature together.
Go Heat, Go!
I don’t understand those who think we wouldn’t get a substantial return for Butler. Lakers trade D’Lo and another young player, plus 3 second round picks to Nets for Finney-Smith and Melton. Butler’s value is a LOT MORE than any of those players.
I think if we could have gotten a good return for Butler in a trade, he would have been gone by now
Because of:
-No competition. Not many teams would want Butler. Even less can sign him.
– Butler comes with request of extension. Or he is basically a half season rental.
-This season he played is not a good advertisement for him. As it wasn’t last one. He shows signs of decline.
-injuries are a concern.
Yes, Heat can also expect a player with huge expiring contract, an unproven young player or two and a low quality or late first pick or two in return.
Is that a good return?
Expiring contract player will be gone, young unproven players will wait behind unproven players we already have, and picks are picks. A change in trades for Riley.
If Jimmy opts out this summer, the cap space left behind could be even more valuable for Heat then the return from trade before.
Fuck Houston and I wish the league would say Amen to Thompson for a week or two. I hate pieces of shit who resort to violence. They should be ashamed. Didn’t they learn anything from Rudy T?
It was said that Thompson is usually a low key player. Like Herro said, he was probably frustrated because Herro was kicking his butt with scoring and assists.
SUNMAN’S THREE TEAM TRADE PROPOSAL:
HOUSTON RECEIVES:
JIMMY BUTLER
SACRAMENTO RECEIVES:
DILLON BROOKS, REED SHEPHARD AND HOUSTON’S 2025 AND 2027 FIRST ROUND PICKS
MIAMI RECEIVES:
DE’AARON FOX AND STEVEN ADAMS
Fox, Herro, Highsmith, Bam, Ware
Rozier, Robinson, Jaquez, Jovic, Adams
Richardson, Larsson, Burks, Johnson, Love
Stevens, Christopher, Smith (two-ways)
I would do that definitely.
Me too
Solid proposal for all teams. Does it work on trade machine?
I think Sacramento would do it, if things would go south in January.
For Houston, it depends, if they want to win it all now or next year.
Probably the best of your trade proposals I’ve seen.
Yes. That’s the first place I checked. After yesterday’s game, I think Houston management realizes they don’t have the veteran presence they will need to get through the tough Western Conference. Butler could be just what the doctor ordered. Plus, they don’t need to trade any of their young rotation players.
Sacramento is going to need to rebuild. If they also want to get rid of DeRozan, Miami could consider trading Robinson or Rozier and 2nd round pick or a young player like Larsson. Lots of possibilities.
I could see that as a possibility as well with derozan. But the 1 thing both Sactown and H-town have in common is there underwhelming 3pt shooting . So Duncan would be a good trade asset, especially when we got a cheaper version in burks.
Yup. I agree, That works for me. Miami has found Duncan’s replacement at a much lower cost for at least the next couple of years. If a trade for DeRozan isn’t possible, then maybe one is available for someone else (like Kuzma, Brogdon, Vucevic, etc.).
for the life of me, I don’t understand why Riley doesn’t want to trade Jimmy Butler. My only guess is that the offers for him have been very underwhelming. I won’t be surprised if he decides to ‘opt-in’ next offseason.
Quick question for everyone, if we made trade for someone, who would you rather trade away Jaquez or jovic? If we’re not able to keep both
JJJ is the biggest disappointment this year. Jovic is good lately ,but he wasn’t at the beggining of the season.
I would say JJJ at the moment, but I would keep both. They are both good young players with some upside.
I would keep both too. Each is still on a rookie contract and each has potential. If one of the two develops into a solid, consistent rotation player, Miami is ahead of the game.
Thanks for chiming In and totally agree with everything you said vagi.
This is a great question. I love them both and I hate that you’re making me choose.
But if I had to pick one, I would want to keep Jovic, because he’s a stretch-big that can rebound and run the floor and shoot the three. That’s just such a valuable type of player to have on your roster.
JJJ is an awesome player and he’s super fun but he doesn’t really fit into any particular category of NBA player. He’s just a winning player. He reminds me of Shane Battier. If he doesn’t stick with the Heat, he’ll be a fan favorite wherever he goes, and I will continue to root for him.
Nice take, It’s a hard ask for everyone on here because we all love them, and wanna keep them both. So just wanted to ask a tough question we will have to answer sooner or later lol. To me he seems like a winning player as well, but I would give him a different comp, over battier because his playstyle is kinda different.
I don’t know if I have an answer.
If Jaime can find his shot him hands down, he can stay on the court against every team. But I don’t think he’s going to.
Cool take, Shid I don’t blame for feeling that way, I feel like his shooting can get better tho because he was shooting near 33 percent from 3 last season. Plus it’s common for players to hit that 2nd year wall, but idk we will see in the future.
NBA POWER RANKINGS
#9
Miami Heat
Last Week:13↑
Record: 16-14
OffRtg: 112.4 (14) DefRtg: 110.4 (10) NetRtg: +2.0 (11) Pace: 97.6 (27)
Pat Riley said Thursday that the Heat aren’t trading Jimmy Butler, who’s been out for 10 days, with the Heat playing ugly and close games in his absence.
https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-11
TYLER HERRO CANDIDATE FOR ALL-STAR TEAM AND MOST IMPROVED PLAYER?
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/miami_heats_tyler_herro_has_all_but_solidified_first_all_star_berth/s1_16619_41490275
Very heartening win against a healthy team playing well. Nico continues to play better. This team is not far off from being good.
agree with the emergence of nico and ware two very tall lads btw. and jimmy back soon for how long nobody knows u make a smart deal and your talking competing with the bostons of the world who might have the worse bench in the nba
Great win. Tyler was the best player on the floor tonight and is clearly an all-star. I’m not the biggest Ware guy, but he looked good out there tonight. And after Terry jumped on the Thompson twin after that dirty foul, he’s now one of my favorite players on the Heat.
Trade Jimmy!
Go Heat!
The Heat players may not be the most talented in the league, but as a whole, the team has some of the biggest hearts. Tonight was an excellent demonstration of grit and perseverance. It was truly a team effort. They could have gotten down and been blown out when Houston went up by 12 points in the turd quarter…but they fought back and didn’t give up against a very good team in a hostile arena. This is the kind of game that can bring a team closer together. Too bad Jimmy was a “no show” to share in the experience.
Without a doubt, Herro is the team’s leader and has elevated his game to an all;-star level, whether he is recognized for it this year or not. But tonight, he didn’t do it alone. Jovic, Highsmith, Rozier, Ware and others also contributed. The guys are trying to find a way to win without Butler. In the process, the younger players are acquiring experience and confidence that will prove invaluable in the future.
The learning process for young players can be very frustrating and stressful for everyone including the team, the fans, the coaches and the organization. But in the long run, the team will be better for it.
What needs to be settled now is in what direction Riley plans to take the team. Having the “Butler situation” drag on is not good for anyone. It’s obvious that his window for a championship in Miami is closing or has closed. The team is already in a quasi rebuild mode. Why not make it official Pat and make the trades necessary to allow the team to move on to the next phase by acquiring young players and draft picks?
Miami is now 16-14 and tied with Milwaukee for 6th place, 1/2 game behind Atlanta and 2 games behind Orlando. The team’s next seven games are against: New Orleans, Indiana and Utah at home, followed by Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, Clippers and Lakers on the road. With a little luck, Miami should win 6 of those nine games. If that happens, the Heat will be 22-17 and in the mix for 4th-6th place.
It’s your move Pat. Time to look to the future. Thanks Jimmy, it was fun while it lasted. Good luck to you both in the future.
GO HEAT!!!
That was an excellent game against good team, maybe the best game of the season.
But when I checked the box score, I couldn’t believe, both teams had 52 rebounds.
I thought there would be at least 10 rebounds difference, based on what I saw.
Jovic had the most complete game this season. I always believed, that his main strengths are playmaking and assisting. Recipe for him is obviously to play him big minutes in long stretches from the bench.
Herro is an all star, no doubt about it.
A truly impressive performance against a very good team that wasn’t missing any major players. Good to see Ware getting more regular minutes and Jovic showing he really belongs. He had 0 turnovers and only 1 pf and finished 18/7/6. Herro – outstanding again. Highsmith – solid 15/8/2/3/1. Bam – good game, not a leading man, true, but I’m okay with that. Like many, I look forward to the Ware/Bam front line.