Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Butler still out for Hawks rematch
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s rematch against the Atlanta Hawks at American-Airlines Arena after being held out of Sunday’s 109-99 victory over the Hawks due to an inflamed right knee.
Butler has missed 13 games this season, with the Heat 4-9 in those 13. Sunday was the Heat’s first victory in Butler’s absence since a Jan. 20 road victory over the Toronto Raptors, with the Heat having then lost their next five without Butler.
Guard Goran Dragic said the team has moved well beyond injuries as excuses.
“We don’t use excuses,” he said. “Everybody can play on this team. We just need to put a solid effort and get defensive stops.”
Rookie forward Precious Achiuwa said it was apparent Sunday that that woe-is-we with Butler out would not be tolerated.
“We have a mindset that we are going to try to get the job done no matter who is out there,” Achiuwa said. “Guys just stay ready for whatever happens and whatever the circumstances are.”
Again out for the Heat are guard Avery Bradley (calf ) and center Meyers Leonard (shoulder), with guard Gabe Vincent (knee) listed as probable.
Those three and Butler are the only players on the Heat injury report.
Precious moment
Although he only played 12:02 Sunday night, Achiuwa still put up 14 points, seven rebounds, a block and a steal.
Achiuwa said the performance transcended being held out of Friday’s victory over the Utah Jazz, his first benching.
“I am always motivated,” the rookie big man said. “I don’t need a certain situation to motivate me. I am a very motivated person. Just given the things that I have been through and where I am from, I see no reason for me not to be motivated at all times.”
It was a prideful moment for Heat center Bam Adebayo.
“I’m proud of my young bro,” he said of the 21-year-old firstround pick. “I call him my little brother for a reason. That’s how it’s supposed to be. I walk off the court, he walks on with the same amount of energy and intensity. He played to that level that I wanted him to play to. I’m going to keep being in his ear and keep building.
“That’s what it’s all about. We’re in this phase of OG [Udonis Haslem] is kind of my vet. UD wants me to be his vet. I don’t know how that works along the tree, but that’s just how it is.”
The little things
Although he went 1 of 8 on his 3-pointers in Sunday’s win, Duncan Robinson’s lone two-point shot, a fourth-quarter driving reverse layup proved key in holding off the Hawks.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said it was a testament to Robinson making sure he still could create a meaningful moment on a 2-of-9 night.
“That off-ball movement is required,” Spoelstra said. “It is a necessity born out of how teams are playing him now. There is not a team that will let him just come off of a handoff or some kind of pin-down cleanly. Those days are behind him. He is not going to get those days ever again in this league. That is a great respect.
“He has adapted already greatly this year.”
Doubling up
With his 16 points and 13 rebounds Sunday against the Hawks, Adebayo not only tied the longest streak of his career with his sixth consecutive double-double, but has recorded nine in his past 10 games.
The last time a Heat player had that many over a 10-game span was Hassan Whiteside, in 2016-17. The Heat record for consecutive double-doubles is 15 by Whiteside in 2017.