This almost ended up being a bad night for Miami Heat. The team blew an 11-point lead to the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter. De’Aaron Fox was also tearing the team’s defense apart. But thanks to Jimmy Butler’s aggressiveness, and Bam Adebayo’s clutch block, the team was able to seal the victory. With the win, Miami moves to 7-12 for the season.
Here are my three takeaways from Saturday’s win over the Kings.
Butler takes charge
After missing the last ten games, Butler was back in action and looked like he hasn’t missed a beat. He made every big play for them down the stretch. His ability to attack the paint and get to the line was essential. He really put the whole team on his back tonight. Hopefully, he stays healthy.
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Butler finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds, seven assists.
Bam’s uneven game
The question coming into Saturday’s game was how Adebayo would play with Butler back. The hope was that Bam would build off his aggressive play when Butler was out. However, It was an uneven game for the Heat center. He again played more passive. Bam really needs to figure out how to pick his spots with Butler there. It’s only the first game with Butler back so there’s still for progress.
Bam finished the night with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists.
KZ remains on a short leash
KZ Okpala got the start for the second consecutive game. However, he only played seven minutes and was replaced by Kelly Olynyk in the second half. The leash on Okpala appears to be very short. Defensively, he’s shown he can hold his own when it comes to one-on-one defenses. Offensively, the fit is questionable. He’s normally placed as a spot-up shooter but he hasn’t shot the ball well consistently. And when he attacks the paint, he’s not looking to score.
KZ ended the night scoreless.
Next up: The Charlotte Hornets. Game tips off at 7:30 pm ET.
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Main Image credit to Jeremy Guerin. Follow Jeremy on Twitter @jeremyguerin_7
