Heat Handle Warriors in Butler’s Miami Return, Knicks Beat Mavericks at Home, Thunder Get 60th Win

Eight games were on Tuesday’s NBA schedule, with the headlining act being Jimmy Butler’s return to Miami, which turned out to be a rough return. The New York Knicks got their 45th victory by defeating the Dallas Mavericks from Madison Square Garden, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lead the Western Conference by 13.5 games, notched their 60th win of the season with a 16-point road win over the Sacramento Kings. 

Butler, who received an indifferent crowd reaction during pregame introductions but was booed during the game upon touching the basketball, struggled going just 5-for-12 from the field for 11 points with 6 rebounds in the Warriors’ 112-86 loss. His first basket of the game came with 9:49 remaining in the opening quarter, a push shot in the lane. He did not score the rest of the quarter as Bam Adebayo (27 points, 8 rebounds, 9-for-18) put up 12 first quarter points. Tyler Herro (7-for-10, 4-for-4 from downtown) scored 20 points with 7 assists while Alec Burks, a noted 3-point marksman, hit on 5-of-7 triples for 17 points. Kel’el Ware finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds and was an active lob threat while also converting on a tricky layup where he lost control of the ball before regaining possession and flipping it up off the backboard in an athletic play for a 7-footer. He can play. 

The Heat shot 56% overall and made 17 of 25 shots from downtown, while the Warriors shot just 40% and made 9 out of 38 attempts from deep. Jonathan Kuminga was 4-for-10 off the bench for 15 points, a Warrior team-high, while Brandin Podziemski was just 6-for-16 for 14 points. In 20 minutes off the bench, Gui Santos was 3-for-6 from deep for 13 points. 

Tuesday’s victory was a much needed second consecutive win for the Heat (31-41, 10th) after 10 straight losses, while the 41-31 Warriors are a half game up on the Los Angeles Clippers for sixth in the West. 

The Knicks improved to 45-26 (3rd in the Eastern Conference) with their 128-113 home victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The 35-38 Mavericks are just 3-10 in the month of March and sit on the outside looking in of the playoff picture as they are a half game back of the Phoenix Suns for the 10th spot. 

While Maverick Naji Marshall’s 38 points on 17-for-25 was a game-high, Karl-Anthony Towns produced his first triple-double in three seasons (26 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 10-for-19) while Josh Hart also registered a triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists on 6-for-9 shooting. OG Anunoby’s 35 points (15-for-24, 3-for-6 from downtown) led the Knicks. Mikal Bridges contributed 21 points on 9-for-14. 

6’1 guard Brandon Williams put up 22 off the bench on 7-for-11 in 28 minutes to aid Marshall’s effort, while Jaden Hardy was 7-for-9 for 15 points, also off the bench. Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 13 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds (4-for-11) as the Mavericks were playing without Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington. 

In Sacramento, the Oklahoma City Thunder (60-12) were impressive on the road in a 121-105 win over the 35-37 Kings. It was also the seventh consecutive win for the Thunder. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his MVP push with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10-for-23 and 3-for-6 from downtown, while Chet Holmgren was 7-for-14 for 18 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Caruso put up 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds (5-for-8) off the bench, while Lu Dort hit three triples for 13 points. Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 10 rebounds with 5 assists and 2 blocks. 

Keegan Murray caught fire from 3-point range (9-for-13) with 28 points and 6 rebounds while Zach LaVine scored 19 points with 7 assists on 7-for-16 (4-for-11 from downtown). Keon Ellis made 4-of-8 triples for 12 points while DeMar DeRozan was 4-for-15 for 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

The Thunder shot 52% from the field and made 19 out of 32 shots from beyond. Gilgeous-Alexander has now recorded 20 or more points in 65 consecutive games, the fifth-longest streak of all-time. Michael Jordan did so for 69 straight games in 1990-91, Oscar Robertson for 76 games in 1963-64, and Wilt Chamberlain on two occasions, 80 games both in 1961-62 and 1963-64. 

Around the League 

Magic 111 (35-38) 

Hornets 104 (18-54) 

Banchero: 32 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST (13-for-24 FG, 2-for-8 3PT) 

Franz Wagner: 26 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST (8-for-22 FG, 1-for-6 3PT) 

Ball: 25 PTS, 9 AST (9-for-13 FG, 3-for-4 3PT) 

Green, Smith Jr: 13 PTS 

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Pistons 122 (41-32) 

Spurs 96 (31-40) 

Sasser: 27 PTS (9-for-12 FG, 5-for-7 3PT)

Harris: 15 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST (4-for-10 FG)

Vassell: 26 PTS, 6 REB (10-for-21 FG, 6-for-12 3PT)

Castle: 19 PTS, 4 AST (7-for-15 FG)

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Rockets 121 (47-26)

Hawks 114 (35-37)

Green: 32 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST (14-for-24 FG)

VanVleet: 21 PTS, 4 REB (5-for-14 FG, 3-for-8 3PT)

Daniels: 19 PTS, 10 AST, 8 REB, 4 STL (7-for-24 FG, 3-for-6 3PT)

Young: 19 PTS, 12 AST (7-for-17 FG, 3-for-7 3PT)

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Grizzlies 140 (44-28)

Jazz 103 (16-57)

Bane: 21 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB (8-for-16 FG, 2-for-4 3PT)

Jackson Jr.: 19 PTS, 3 REB, 2 BLK (8-for-12 FG)

Collier: 21 PTS, 4 AST, 3 REB (7-for-13 FG, 4-for-8 3PT)

Sexton: 15 PTS, 4 AST (4-for-10 FG)

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Cavaliers 122 (58-14)

Trail Blazers 111 (32-41)

Garland: 27 PTS, 8 AST, 5 REB (11-for-19 FG)

Jerome: 25 PTS (9-for-15 FG, 4-for-5 3PT)

Mobley: 21 PTS, 12 REB, 4 BLK, 4 AST (8-for-15 FG)

Clingan: 18 PTS, 12 AST, 3 BLK (6-for-10 FG)

Sharpe: 18 PTS, 4 REB (8-for-20 FG)

Henderson: 18 PTS, 6 AST, 6 REB (6-for-12 FG)

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