MIAMI — The Miami Heat clearly appreciated the gravity of the moment, coming off a lopsided loss to the Boston Celtics and facing a team tied for the NBA’s best record.
So Kyle Lowry wasn’t about to allow something as mundane as an ankle sprain hold him back, Bam Adebayo wasn’t going to capitulate to the Utah Jazz’s interior size, Jimmy Butler wasn’t going to allow anyone to get between himself and the rim, and Tyler Herro was back to Boy Wonder-ing.
Even with Donovan Mitchell giving the Jazz their best shots, the Heat held on for a harrowing 118-115 victory Saturday night at FTX Arena.
Lowry led the way with a triple-double, closing with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, with Herro adding 29 points, Butler 27 points and Adebayo 17.
If there is such a thing as a statement victory the first week in November, this was it, with the Heat and Jazz both 7-2.
And it’s not over yet, with the teams also to meet next Saturday in Utah, the Heat again to have to contend with Mitchell, who closed with 37 points.
Five Degrees of Heat from Saturday night’s game:
1. Closing time: The Heat moved to a 112-93 lead with 5:30 to play. But a 13-0 Utah run, capped by a Mitchell 3-pointer with 1:58 to play drew the Jazz within 112-106.
The Heat then won a coach’s challenge on what would have been a charge on Butler, with Butler instead converting a free throw with 1:47 left for a 113-106 lead.
Eventually, Utah was in possession down 115-110 with 42 seconds left, with Mike Conley draining a 3-pointer off a scramble possession with 18.9 seconds to go to reduce the Heat lead to 115-113.
Herro then was fouled with 17.6 seconds left, making only the second free throw and leaving Utah in position to tie, with the score 116-113.
Instead, a Rudy Gobert dunk followed to bring the Jazz within 116-115.
Butler then went to the line with 10.4 seconds left, making both free throws for a 118-115 lead.
It ended with a wayward forced 3-point attempt from Mitchell.
2. Back at it: The Heat got good news pregame when Lowry was cleared to play after leaving Thursday’s loss to the Celtics with a sprained left ankle, the same ankle that kept him out of the Oct. 23 overtime loss in Indiana.
You would not have know anything was wrong, based on the way Lowry attacked the glass, in double figures in rebounds by midway through the third period.
Lowry opened 5 of 6 from the field, 2 of 3 on 3-pointers, and kelp going from there.
3. Middle men: Adebayo more than held his own in the middle against the Jazz’s 7-foot tag team of Gobert and former Heat big man Hassan Whiteside. Adebayo’s night included forceful play at the rim and but also several feathery jumpers that were beyond the reaches of Gobert and Whiteside.
Whiteside was forced to the bench after only 7:43 of first-half action due to three fouls, mildly jeered during his time on the court.
Pregame, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Whiteside landing with Utah, “I’m happy for Hassan. He’s one of the guys that you root for.”
4. All-hands team: Part of both the advantage and challenge of playing with Lowry is passes that can challenge the most talented of receivers.
To that end, Butler did his part with the hit-aheads, including one box out for position that came as close as you can come to offensive pass interference in the NBA.
Butler particularly went on the offensive in the third quarter, when he scored 12 and also had three assists in the period.
5. Tyler time: Going against last season Sixth Man Away winner Jordan Clarkson, Herro consistently made timely shots and injected energy when needed.
His effort was particularly needed from beyond the arc, with the struggles continuing for Duncan Robinson, who shot 1 of 5 on 3-pointers, his only attempts of the game.
