Jimmy Butler serves up 16th triple-double as Heat top Wemby, Spurs

Jimmy Butler notched his 16th career triple-double, leading the host Miami Heat past the San Antonio Spurs, 116-104, on Wednesday night, February 7 (Thursday, February 8, Manila time).

Butler had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists and added a game-high 3 steals and no turnovers in 34 minutes.

Tyler Herro had a game-high 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Heat. Bam Adebayo added 20 points on 10-for-14 shooting.

San Antonio, which has lost five straight games, was led by star rookie Victor Wembanyama, who had 18 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. He made 7-of-13 shots, including 3-of-5 on three-pointers, and he produced his 25th double-double of the season.

The Spurs, who have the worst record in the Western Conference, also got 19 points each from Devin Vassell and Tre Jones.

In a statistical oddity, both teams shot 56.5% from the floor in the first period and 39.1% in the second. They also both made three three-pointers in the first and one in the second.

Miami led 32-31 after one quarter, thanks in part to 10 points from Adebayo, and the Heat stretched their advantage to 53-51 at halftime.

Among the first-half highlights was San Antonio’s Cedi Osman banking a 28-footer just before the buzzer to end the first quarter.

With 3:33 left in the third period, San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan dove into the stands in an attempt to save a long pass from Jones. 

While in the stands, Sochan playfully ate from a fan’s bucket of popcorn and also kissed the forehead of a spectator whom he inadvertently kicked in pursuit of the ball.

The third quarter ended much like the first two – with Miami holding a slim lead, this time 78-77. The first three quarters featured 16 lead changes.

Herro led all third-quarter scorers with 10 points, and the Heat finally pulled away in the fourth. – Rappler.com