Butler ng Heat, nilusaw ang Warriors ni Curry

Mula nang maglaro uli si Jimmy Butler, naputol na ang palagiang pagkatalo ng Miami Heat.

Nakapuntos si Butler ng 21 at 10 rebounds sa kanyang pagbabalik sa line-up at pinagwagian ng Heat ang laban at biguin pa ang pagbabalik sa unang laro ni Andre Iguodala sa Bay Area at maisahan ang Golden State Warriors, 113-101 sa NBA game kahapon.

“We look like a totally different team when our max player is out there,’’ ayon kay Miami coach Erik Spoelstra patungkol kay Butler. “He makes it look a little bit smoother, a little bit more settled with our offense. The ball gets to the right places. He finds a way to get to the free throw line. All these things that are necessary when you want to win on the road.’’

Muling pinatunayan ni Butler na may ibubuga siya matapos na magbakasyon at mapagaling ang kanyang ‘right shoulder strain’ na natamo kontra Clippers noong Peb. 5. Umiskor ang All-Star forward ng 13 points sa first half, 5 assists upang paapuyin ang Heat at tuldukan ang tatlong sunod na pagkatalo sa laro.

“That’s what my team needs me to do, be that way on both ends of the floor,’’ saad ni Butler. ‘’We have a couple of new guys that are just as effective as I am. It’s really great and it’s really fun to go out there and compete with them.’’

Umagapay si Jae Crowder ng 21 puntos at 8 rebounds. May 13 puntos si Bam Adebayo, 11 rebounds at 7 assists. May 12 puntos si Kelly Olynyk at career-high 11 assists.

Sa iba pang laro, nagwagi ang Charlotte Hornets sa Detroit Pistons, 87-76; nakalusot ang Brooklyn Nets sa Indiana Pacers, 106-105; maging ang Orlando Magic sa Atlanta Hawks, 135-126; umalagwa ang Toronto Raptors kontra Minnesota Timberwolves, 137-126; nadagit ng Milwaukee Hawks ang Sacramento Kings, 123-111, nakontrol ng Utah Jazz ang Dallas Mavericks, 123-119 at bumida ang Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns, 125-100.