NBA ROUNDUP: Dallas suffers a huge blow in the race for the last Western Conference play-in spot

Miami was desperate. So was Dallas. Jimmy Butler and the Heat had just enough to help their playoff position, while dealing a huge blow to the Mavericks.

Butler had 35 points and 12 assists, Cody Zeller added 20 points and the Heat beat the Mavericks 129-122 on Saturday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Max Strus and Kevin Love each had 18 and Tyler Herro added 15 for the Heat. Miami won despite allowing Dallas to shoot a season-best 61%.

“I wouldn’t necessarily have mapped it out this way,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Luka Doncic shined again for Dallas, finishing with 42 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 31 points and Kyrie Irving added 23 points and eight assists for the Mavericks.

“A win is a win,” Butler said. ‘I don’t like the fact that they shot at 61%. But I like the fact that we finally won a game.

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) defends Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the first half

The Mavs had gone 7-0 this season when shooting on at least 54% of their shots, and have fallen to 30-2 in all time, including the playoffs, in games in which they hit at least 60% of their shots. shooting.

“Our defense was nonexistent,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. ‘Could not get stops’.

Both clubs reached the conference finals last season; the Heat are trying to get out of the play-in round, and the Mavericks are trying to get a shot at the playoffs.

The victory moves Miami (41-37) closer to securing no less than the No. 7 seed and the most advantageous spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. The Heat now lead 2 1/2 games over No. 8 Atlanta (38-39) and No. 9 Toronto (also 38-39).

Miami moved to 1 1/2 games behind No. 6 Brooklyn (42-35). Even if the Heat win and finish with 45 wins, the Nets, who have the head-to-head tiebreaker, would only need to go 3-2 in their last five games to ensure they finish ahead of Miami.

Meanwhile, it’s a big blow for Dallas (37-41).

The Mavs fell a full game behind No. 10 Oklahoma City (38-40) in the race for the final Western Conference play-in spot and, even worse, the Thunder own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Dallas is now two games behind No. 9 Minnesota (39-39) and just a half game ahead of No. 12 Utah (36-41).

“I just have to play hard, play desperate and anything can happen,” Hardaway said. ‘Anything can happen.’

Miami changed its starting lineup, partly out of necessity. Center Bam Adebayo did not play due to a bruised right hip, so Zeller, starting a game for the first time since May 15, 2021 for Charlotte, took his place and Strus filled the starting forward spot he had left. busy Love ever since. he joined the Heat in February.

The moves paid immediate dividends. Strus was 3-for-3, all 3-pointers, in his first turn. Love was 3-for-3 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line for 13 points in his first 8 minutes off the bench, and Zeller had 12 points at halftime.

“K-Love has always, always been about winning,” Butler said. ‘As long as we win, he’s not going to complain.’

It all helped add up to the highest-scoring third first half in Heat history: Miami led 76-64 at halftime, extended the lead to 18 in the second half and then had to hold on in the final moments anyway.

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks

PELICANS 122, CLIPPERS 114

Brandon Ingram scored 36 points, bringing fans to their feet with an array of midrange jump shots, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-114 on Saturday night.

Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans (40-38), which won for the seventh time in eight games and pulled within a half-game of the Clippers (41-38) for sixth place in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles lost its second straight game despite getting 40 points from Kawhi Leonard, who played 41 minutes in New Orleans after being restricted to 18 minutes during a loss at Memphis the night before to make himself more available against the chasing Pelicans. .

CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III each added 19 points for New Orleans, which trailed for most of the first three quarters but held a slight lead through the fourth.

Russell Westbrook had 24 points and nine assists for the Clippers. Ivica Zubac added 15 points and Norman Powell 12 for Los Angeles.

Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dunks the ball over Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell