Heat outlast Mavericks in overtime after Doncic's absence, securing victory
Game Recap: Miami Heat Outlast Dallas Mavericks in Overtime Thriller 🏀
The Miami Heat claimed victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a nail-biting overtime contest on Sunday, with Jimmy Butler leading the charge. Butler scored a game-high 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, guiding the Heat past the Mavs, 123-118.
Kyrie Irving was the Mavs top scorer with 27 points and 6 assists, while P.J. Washington added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Naji Marshall contributed 19 of his 20 points after half-time, and Dereck Lively II had a double-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
Despite Klay Thompson's 0-for-8 performance in the Mavs' win over Denver on Friday, he bounced back against Miami, scoring 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting.
Luka Doncic was missing for the Mavs due to a wrist injury, leaving a gap in their offense.
The Heat extended their lead in overtime thanks to Bam Adebayo's decisive three-pointer, putting them up 120-118 with 2:54 remaining. The Mavs struggled to find their rhythm from there, missing their final seven shots after Lively's dunk gave them a 118-117 lead with 3:21 left in overtime.
Adebayo, who went 3-of-6 from three-point range for the Heat, helped them shoot 34.1% (14-of-41) from beyond the arc. The Mavs struggled from deep, hitting only 10 of their 40 three-point attempts (25%) and shooting 41.9% overall.
The Mavs took their first lead since the opening quarter on a three-pointer by Irving that made it 106-103 with 4:34 left in regulation. The Mavs managed to hold a one-point edge as Irving missed a free throw with 8.2 seconds left, leaving the door open for the Heat.
Butler seized the opportunity with a dunk off a Duncan Robinson feed with 4.3 seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime after Spencer Dinwiddie's long three-point attempt at the buzzer missed.
Dinwiddie struggled throughout the game, finishing with 7 points on 1-for-12 shooting, including 0-for-9 from three-point range.
The Heat and Mavs exchanged leads in the first quarter, with Miami leading 33-28 following a 9-0 run. The Heat shot only 28.6% in the second quarter, but still held a 56-51 lead at halftime. The third quarter was a standoff, ending with the Heat ahead 89-84.
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In the thrilling overtime win for the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler led the charge with 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, while the Dallas Mavericks' top scorer was Kyrie Irving with 27 points. Basketball and football (NBA) were the sports in play as the Heat and Mavs exchanged leads throughout the game, with Bam Adebayo's three-pointer proving decisive in overtime. Despite the Mavs' struggles from three-point range (25%), they still managed to keep the game close, with both teams displaying superior skills in other aspects of the game.
