Jimmy Butler scores season-high 38 as Ben Simmons calls 76ers ‘soft’
It was simply Butler’s night against his former team. He went 14-of-20 from the field, 2-of-2 from 3 and knocked down all eight of his free throws in 29 minutes, sitting out the entire fourth quarter due to the blowout.
“He was so assertive and aggressive,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Versus what they were trying to do, he was taking what was available to him and he got in a great rhythm.”
Butler scored 23 points in the first half, his second most in a half this season, and he went 7-of-10 for 19 points in the game with Ben Simmons as his primary defender.
“I’m never worried about offense. Hell, I’m never worried about defense,” Butler said. “All I’m ever worried about is winning.”
It was one of the best performances of the season for the Heat, who had just three turnovers. That’s a franchise low for the Heat and tied a season low for any team in the NBA this season.
“That was the best form of us tonight and it really showed,” Heat forward Bam Adebayo said.
Miami (34-15) claimed the season series 3-1 over Philadelphia with the victory, and it remained tied with Boston for the No. 3 seed in the East.
Meanwhile, the 76ers (31-20) completely imploded in the second half, getting outscored 81-54. It was eerily quiet in their postgame locker room.
“We were soft,” said Simmons, who was a game-low minus-31 and had a game-high four turnovers.
It’s not the first time Simmons has called the 76ers soft. In January 2019, Simmons said his team was “too soft” after being dominated in the paint and on the boards in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Butler, then a Sixer, disagreed. But a month later, Philadelphia made a big splash in trading for Tobias Harris.
With this season’s trade deadline looming Thursday, questions will arise if Philadelphia’s current roster is set up to compete for a championship. The 76ers remain the No. 6 seed in the East, four games back of owning home-court advantage.
The 76ers’ rough spell continues; they are 8-10 since a Christmas Day win over Milwaukee, with more issues exposing themselves after each loss. It’s their fourth three-game losing streak of the season.
“The physicality side of things, we gotta step that up. That comes with experience, also just comes with personality,” Simmons said. “Don’t get bullied. Fight over screens, get through screens. If you gotta knock somebody over, knock ’em over. If you gotta hit somebody in the face and knock ’em down so they don’t score, hit ’em in the face.”
Philadelphia had its worst defensive efficiency (148.9) in a game over the past 20 seasons. Miami, on the other hand, had its best offensive efficiency (148.9) game over the past 20 seasons.
“Our defense was poor,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “When you create three turnovers for a game — it’s just not a reflection of who we are. I think we’re the third- or the fourth-best defensive team in the NBA. And we weren’t even close to that tonight.”
Philadelphia sent Butler to Miami last July in a sign-and-trade deal that brough Josh Richardson back to the 76ers. It’s a move that helped the Heat go from a playoff bubble team to an Eastern Conference contender, and it’s contributing to the 76ers’ current struggles.
Heat guard Tyler Herro (right foot soreness) and center Meyers Leonard (sprained left ankle) did not return after suffering injuries. Spoelstra didn’t have an immediate update on their long-term status after the game, but Leonard was seen on crutches in the locker room, while Herro was walking with a long sock on his right leg and foot.