Jimmy Butler III had 35 points (16 in the first quarter) and a season-high 12 assists, and the Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks 129-122.
The Heat took control with a 34-11 run bridging the first and second quarters and led by as many as 18.
Cody Zeller had 20 points (18 in the paint) and 8 rebounds on 9 for 13 shooting. Butler assisted on 7 of Zeller’s 9 baskets.
For the Mavericks, Luka Dončić had 42 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists on 17 for 25 shooting, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added a season-high 31 points and 7 assists on 11 for 15 shooting. Kyrie Irving had 23 points and 8 assists. The Mavericks had 2 30-point scorers.
The Mavericks got 1 offensive rebound, about 4 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Heat did not make a field goal in the last 3:21. The Mavericks outscored the Heat 29-18 in 12 minutes with Irving, Hardaway, Kleber, Dončić and Green on the floor together.