In a night packed with NBA drama, Jimmy Butler made a triumphant return from injury to lead the Miami Heat to a 106-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, while Damian Lillard’s late-game heroics helped the Milwaukee Bucks edge the Houston Rockets 101-100.
Butler Sparks Heat Rally
Jimmy Butler, returning after a four-game absence due to a sprained ankle, delivered a season-high 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Tyler Herro added 16 of his 18 points in a pivotal third quarter as the Heat rallied from a 19-point second-quarter deficit to secure their second home win of the season.
Philadelphia rookie Jared McCain led the Sixers with 20 points, while Paul George contributed 18. Joel Embiid, playing through an illness, was limited to 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists as the 76ers continued their slump.
Lillard’s Late Layup Lifts Bucks
Damian Lillard scored Milwaukee’s final seven points, including the game-winning layup with 3.9 seconds remaining, as the Bucks overcame the Houston Rockets. Lillard finished with 18 points and 10 assists, complementing Brook Lopez’s team-high 27 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 20-point, 13-rebound performance.
Fred VanVleet led Houston with 26 points, but Alperen Sengun’s late miss, which was blocked by Antetokounmpo, proved costly as the Rockets’ five-game winning streak ended.
Clippers Edge Warriors in Tight Contest
Norman Powell’s 23 points and Ivica Zubac’s 17 rebounds powered the Los Angeles Clippers to a 102-99 win over the Golden State Warriors. James Harden contributed 12 points and 16 assists as the Clippers secured their fifth straight home victory.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 26 points but missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds, snapping the Warriors’ three-game win streak.
Other Highlights
– Bulls 122, Pistons 112: Nikola Vucevic recorded 29 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Detroit Pistons. Zach LaVine and Coby White added 25 points each. Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 26 points and 10 assists.
– Raptors 130, Pacers 119: RJ Barrett erupted for a season-best 39 points as Toronto ended a seven-game losing streak. Jakob Poeltl added 30 points and 15 rebounds, while Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin tallied 28 points.
– Knicks 134, Wizards 106: Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns both posted double-doubles as New York cruised past Washington, which suffered its ninth straight loss.
– Magic 109, Suns 99: Franz Wagner matched a season high with 32 points as Orlando extended its win streak to six. Injury-plagued Phoenix, playing without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, struggled despite 18 points from Tyus Jones.
– Hawks 109, Kings 108: De’Andre Hunter’s 24 points off the bench and Dyson Daniels’ last-second defensive play secured Atlanta’s win. Sacramento’s Keon Ellis scored a career-high 33 points, including nine three-pointers.
