As hard as it may be, the Miami Heat have been faced with the daunting task of earning wins throughout all the Jimmy Butler drama. Unfortunately for them, that has proved to be easier said than done— as Miami loses to the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 116-107 on Tuesday night.
It was the Heat’s fourth loss in the last five games. Not even the new Bam Adebayo-Kel’el Ware frontcourt dynamic was enough to quiet the outside noise and pick up the victory against a struggling Blazers squad. Portland came into the night sporting a 14-28 record; good for the 13th seed in the Western Conference.
Miami displayed some sizzling shooting early on, going 64% from the field with 78% from 3-point range on 7 of 9 overall to end the first quarter. However, the Blazers responded with dominant showings in the 2nd and 3rd, despite the terrific efforts from Ware in his first career start.
The rookie finished the night with a 20 points and 15 rebounds double-double to go along with a pair of blocks.
When asked about his thoughts on the big man’s starting debut, coach Erik Spoelstra seemed impressed in the postgame presser.
“The upside obviously is very encouraging,” Spoelstra said. “That’s why he’s in the starting line-up right now. Frankly, we need to get him in there for more minutes.”
Duncan Robinson also continue his recent stretch of hot shooting. He pitched in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 8 of 15 shooting and six 3-point splashes. Unfortunately, the team got minimal offensive contributions elsewhere outside of Robinson and Ware.
The Heat’s dud went deeper than just struggles from the supporting cast tonight. They entered the game without the services of Tyler Herro, who sat out due to right groin tightness. Although, the guard mentioned that he will be good to go for Thursday’s matchup in Milwaukee. It was his first missed game of the season.
Maybe Butler’s impact also had a negative effect on the loss. Like he has shown in the last two games since his return, he seemed completely disinterested. The whole vibe has an awkward cloud around the locker room currently as Butler has seemed to isolate himself from his teammates, while he still searches for a trade out of South Beach.
He finished with 13 points and 8 assists on 4 of 9 shooting overall on the night. When asked about the effort from the disgruntled star, Spoelstra refused to even entertain the question.
The Blazers earned this win with their two-way play of the entire rotation. Anfernee Simons led with a game-high 24 points and six 3-point makes. Deandre Ayton’s elite and efficient 22 and 15 double-double on 11 of 14 shooting throttled the Heat down low, and they didn’t have much answers regardless of Ware’s terrific outing.
Portland outscored Miami 63-39 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the game combined. Spearheaded by some of the Heat youngsters, a late fourth quarter run to cut into the deficit was too little too late.
They will get their next chance to bounce back Thursday night against the rival Milwaukee Bucks.
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Props to Five Reasons Sports for that amazing photo. Unfortunately for everyone involved, that will be the enduring image of the last Jimmy Butler season in Miami.
In my opinion, this drops Jimmy below the status of guys like Bosh and Zo that are forever beloved, and into the realm of Shaq or Ray Allen. A Top-10 Heat player of all time for sure, but borderline Top-5
A top-5 douche for sure.
That picture tells the whole story.
spos non use of bam very perplexing he was ok when he played
This would have never happened if Jimmy Butler was still alive. Hopefully this wakes Pat Riley up out of his coma
Change is coming. Suns traded 2031 pick to Utah for 3 lower first round picks in 2025, 27, and 29. Hopefully this saga ends in the next couple of days!! I am looking forward to whatever comes next!
hearing beal and a 1 to milw portis middleton 2 1s to heat quitter to suns connaughtton to det or toronto involved we get brown and portis 2 1s its happening very very soon.this ended very ugly all due to jimmy thanks for nothing quitter
Thanks. I’m good with that.
Agreed. I’m happy with Brown, Portis, and 2 firsts. The sooner Jimmy is gone the better. Hope he finds joy with the 12th place Suns
He will find his joy in the extra year of his max. contract he will get in Phoenix.
Anything we get in return is better than him playing without joy and being a distraction for the team.