Butler's Return Boosts Miami Heat to Overtime Victory Against Brooklyn Nets

Butler scores 31 points in comeback game, leading Heat to third straight win and deepening Nets' losing streak.

Jimmy Butler returned after missing seven games due to a sprained toe and scored 31 points, including two free throws with 11.8 seconds left in overtime, helping Miami Heat beat Brooklyn Nets 96-95.
Tyler Herro had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Bam Adebayo added 11 points and 20 rebounds in Miami’s third straight win.
Mikal Bridges scored 26 points, and Cam Thomas added 23 for Brooklyn. The Nets lost their third straight and eight of the last nine games.
After scoring a season-low 31 first-half points, the Heat came out strong after the break, led by Herro and Butler. Herro had 23 points in the second half and overtime, and Butler scored 21 in that span, helping Miami outscore Brooklyn 57-43 over the third and fourth quarters.
Miami turned up the heat on Brooklyn, holding it to 30.9% shooting in the second half. Bridges forced overtime with two free throws with 4.4 seconds left and Brooklyn scored the first five points of OT, before Miami closed the game with an 8-2 run and stopped Bridges’ fall-away jumper in the closing seconds.