HEAT SET FREE-THROW RECORD IN NIPPING THUNDER; CLIPPERS END SLUMP
MIAMI—Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 35 points, and the Heat set an NBA record by making all 40 of their free throws in a 112-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Miami, which completed the second half with just eight available players, also got 22 points from Max Strus and 19 from Victor Oladipo. Butler, the only customary starter in the Miami lineup, made all 23 of his free throws, tying Dominique Wilkins for the second-most made foul shots without a miss in NBA history.
“I had no idea,” Butler told reporters of his feat. “I’m more excited that we won this game by one point.”
Oklahoma City led, 111-109, with 22.3 seconds left when Kenrich Williams missed two free throws. Aaron Wiggins grabbed an offensive rebound, but Oladipo stole the ball and Butler made a three-point play on a layup with 12.2 seconds left. That gave Miami a 112-111 lead, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a three-pointer on Oklahoma City’s final possession.
The previous perfect freethrow mark was Utah’s 39-for39 clip against Portland in Dec. 7, 1982.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was also unaware of his team’s free-throw record.
“I didn’t realize we hadn’t missed a free throw,” Spoelstra said. “We’ve been a very good free-throw shooting team all year, but that’s crazy.”
‘Normal Tuesday’
The victory was carved out even with Miami missing six injured players, counting four starters.
“It’s just a normal Tuesday night for the Miami Heat,” Spoelstra said.
“I think this is when we feel most alive, when everything just happens and when all of our competitive juices get out there. That’s the team we all can relate to. That’s the team I like,” he added.
“Complete team effort,” Butler said. “I’m proud of my guys.”
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points that went with nine rebounds, and Norman Powell added 27 points as the Clippers ended a season-long, six-game losing streak with a win over Dallas.
Marcus Morris Sr. and Terance Mann each scored 12 points as the Clippers won for the first time in the new year and picked up their first home win since Dec. 21.