Jimmy Butler torments his former team as Miami Heat beat Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers headed to Miami with a hope to snap a three-game skid, but they bumped into a motivated Jimmy Butler, of course, their former employee, and left the Capital of Latin America with a blow out 137-106 mauling at American Airlines Arena. It was Sixers’ fourth straight defeat, three of which have been in double digits.

If you followed that game, and you know how to read body language, you may have sensed an overarching difference in both team’s approach in that game. While the Heat were hot right from the off, with their players making defence-piercing movements, never shy of taking a pop at the hoop, the sixers were measured in all things they tried to execute on the court, lacked energy or maybe the visitors were jet-lagged.

🔥 @JimmyButler's season-high 38 PTS lead the @MiamiHEAT to 22-3 at home! pic.twitter.com/8Jdj31Yohu

— NBA (@NBA) February 4, 2020

But the story could have been entirely different had the Sixers managed to maintain the hot start they made in the game. Philadelphia looked like going into the second quarter with a lead but Heat ended the first phase with a 6-0 run, including Derrick Jones’ alley-oop shot, and never looked back in the game.

Butler, as mentioned, was the chief tormentor as he dropped a game-high 38 points, seven assists, and two rebounds. What was more embarrassing for the Sixers is that Butler sat out the entire fourth quarter. He was never needed, Heat’s top-game wasn’t needed, and head coach Erik Spoelstra had the luxury of looking over at his bench to ease his starters through the game.

Reporter to Jimmy Butler: "What do you say when they say you need a team of two to three stars and this team has just one star?"

Jimmy: "This is a team of one star? Who is that? Bam [Adebayo]?

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 19, 2019

Butler has been quite vocal about Bam Adebayo’s impact on this team, and the 22-year-old Centre, who can also play as a power forward, had another big game as he clocked a double-double with 18 points, 11 assists and had 8 rebounds to add to his immense efforts. Goran Dragic popped up with 24 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds in only 26 minutes of play, while Duncan Robinson continues to improve his profile and contributed with 19 points.

“I was definitely yelling, ‘Go for 40’ every time he scored,” Bam Adebayo said after the game.
“It got in the fourth and I was like, ‘You have to go for 40’ and he was like,’Nah, I’m cool. I’m going to get some rest.’ OK, more shots for me.”

Joel Embiid made a valiant effort with a double-double, 29 points, and 12 rebounds. The All-Star Bigman made 9 of 14 shots and 9 of 11 free throws.

It was a good comeback performance from Embiid who endured a horrendous night against the Boston Celtics, making just 1 of 11 shots from the floor while mustering a meagre 11 points.

Heat improved to 34-15 in the season and moved to fourth in the Eastern Conference, while the Sixers fell to 31-20.