MANILA – Miami Heat showed supremacy on the basketball court on Thursday night as they crushed the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-104, during the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association Season (NBA) at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.
Jimmy Butler led the way with 28 points. Victor Oladipo and Tyler Herro contributed 18 and 15 markers, respectively, as the Heat hiked its record to 27-25.
Bam Adebayo chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, while Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragić added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Heat which also ousted the Lakers in their February encounter.
Holding to a slim 92-89 lead midway in the fourth period, the Heat created separation from the Lakers with baskets from Oladipo, Robinson, and Butler to build a 104-94 advantage.
The Lakers made its last push as it trimmed the deficit to 100-106 on a triple by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Four free throw conversions from Butler sealed the victory for the Heat.
Caldwell-Pope finished with season-high 28 points; Andre Drummond gave double-double 15 points and 12 rebounds; and Wesley Matthews and Markieff Morris ended up with 14 and 12, respectively, for the Lakers (32-20).
The Lakers were heavily shorthanded with injuries by Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Kyle Kuzma while Talen Horton-Tucker served a one-game suspension.
Meanwhile, Chicago Bulls (22-28) surged to its third straight victory after a 122-113 triumph over Toronto Raptors (20-32) at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Zach LaVine finished with 22 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, and three steals, while Nikola Vucevic and Lauri Markkanen added 22 and 18 markers, respectively, for the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers (19-32), on the other hand, cruised to a 129-102 victory over Oklahoma City Thunder (20-32). Collin Sexton top-scored with 27 points for the Cavaliers.
BOX SCORE:
MIAMI 110 – Butler 28, Oladipo 18, Herro 15, Adebayo 13, Robinson 11, Dragić 10, Ariza 8, Achiuwa 7, Iguodala 0, Bjelica 0.
LOS ANGELES 104 – Caldwell-Pope 28, Drummond 15, Matthews 14, Morris 12, Schroder 10, Harrell 10, McLemore 6, Caruso 5, McKinnie 4.
QUARTERSCORES:
32-27, 54-56, 83-80, 110-104./PN
