BUTLER SCORES 28 AS MIAMI BEATS DEPLETED LAKERS

Jimmy Butler scored 28 points to lead the Miami Heat past the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 110-104 on Thursday night.

Victor Oladipo added 18 points but limped off the court, favoring his right knee, after a dunk late in the fourth quarter. Coach Erik Spoelstra said Oladipo, acquired in a trade with Houston on March 25, will be evaluated today.

“He gives us another element of attacking,” Spoelstra said.

Tyler Herro finished with 15 points for the Heat, who bounced back from Tuesday’s 12-point home loss against Memphis.

“We always take the Ws in this league. They’re hard to come by,” Butler said. “We can be better but you’ve got to take them when you can get them.”

Miami went on a 9-2 run late in the fourth period and took a 104-94 lead with 2:14 remaining on Butler’s two technical free throws following Markieff Morris’ ejection for arguing with the officials.

The Lakers cut it to 106100 on Kentavious CaldwellPope’s 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining. Butler’s four throws on Miami’s next two possessions secured the win.

“We’ve been up and down all year long, hopefully we hit a stride that we’re playing the right way and string together wins,” Butler said.

Kentavious CaldwellPope scored 28 points, including 6 of 11 3-pointers.

“Very proud of the effort, the fight and the belief we had in one and another that we could beat this team,” Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel said. “Our guys competed their tails off.”

Recently acquired Andre Drummond returned from a four-game absence and had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers. Drummond hurt his right big toe in his Los Angeles debut on March 31.

“It felt good, a little sore but it’s not going to hold me back,” Drummond said.

The Lakers continued without injured LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Clippers 113, Suns 103:

Paul George scored 33 points as host Los Angeles picked up a game on firstplace Phoenix.

Pistons 113, Kings 101:

Cory Joseph had a seasonhigh 24 points and seven assists in his first game against his former team, Jhalil Okafor made a timely return after missing nearly two months following knee surgery, and short-handed Detroit beat host Sacramento.

Jazz 122, Trail Blazers 103: Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points to lead Utah to its 23rd straight home victory, beating Portland.

Mavericks 116, Bucks 101:

Luka Doncic scored 27 points, and Kristaps Porzingis had 26 points and 17 rebounds playing on consecutive days for the first time in two months in Dallas’ victory over host Milwaukee.

Porzingis scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including eight in a row while giving Dallas the lead for good.

Bulls 122, Raptors 113:

Nikola Vucevic and Zach Levine each scored 22 points and Chicago beat Toronto at Tampa, Fla., for its third straight victory.

Cavaliers 129, Thunder 102: Collin Sexton scored 27 points and Cleveland ended a five-game series losing streak to host Oklahoma City.

Notable

Raptors guards DeAndre’ Bembry and Fred Van Vleet and Lakers guard

Talen Horton-Tucker were suspended one game without pay for leaving their benches during a fight. The suspensions, announced by

Kiki VanDeWeghe, NBA executive vice president for basketball operations, stemmed from the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game, a 110-101 victory by the Lakers. Also, Toronto’s OG Anunoby ($30,000) and

Montrezl Harrell ($20,000) of Los Angeles were fined for their roles, leading to their ejections.