Jimmy Butler III scored 29 points (20 in the paint), and the Miami Heat closed the third quarter on a 15-0 run to beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-111.
The Spurs went on an 18-6 run to lead 74-67 with 4:13 left in the third quarter. Butler’s turnaround jumper put the Heat ahead for good with 1:58 left in the quarter. Dewayne Dedmon scored 6 points during the run, and they led 82-74 after three quarters.
The Spurs got within 114-111 on Rudy Gay’s 29-foot 3-pointer with 44 seconds to play, but Butler answered with 2 free throws, and the Spurs got no closer.
During clutch time, the Heat outscored the Spurs 7-4. Butler scored 4 of the Heat’s 7 at the line, 4 for 4.
Bam Adebayo had 21 points (14 in the paint) and 11 rebounds, and Dedmon added 18 points and 9 rebounds on 7 for 8 shooting off the bench.
For the Spurs, Dejounte Murray had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, his fourth career triple-double, and DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and 8 assists.
The Heat shot 50.6% from the field and 36.0% from 3 to the Spurs’ 46.6% and 31.3%. The Spurs were outscored 17-4 in 4 minutes with DeRozan, Mills, Walker, Eubanks and Johnson on the floor together.