MIAMI — Jimmy Butler fell to the floor and released a cathartic yell as he converted a layup and was fouled with 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Eastern Conference play-in game, giving the Heat a lead over the Bulls they would not relinquish.
About a minute later in the game, Butler made the pass that led to a 3-pointer from Max Strus, extending Miami’s lead during a dominant stretch run from the Heat in a 102-91 victory to clinch the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Butler and Strus each scored 31 points and the Heat outscored the Bulls 15-1 over the final three minutes of the game.
“That’s what my team needed me to do,” Butler said. “Find a way.”
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