MIAMI — There was the usual: Jimmy Butler consistently working his way to the foul line, Bam Adebayo battling his way to a double-double.
There also was the unusual: Gabe Vincent with six third-quarter 3-pointers, Justise Winslow for the first time in the building in opposing colors.
But there was one consistent for the Heat in Friday night’s 121-114 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, another victory at FTX Arena, their 12th in their last 13 home games.
What appeared headed to a blowout instead followed the script of so many other recent large Heat leads, with closing time against mattering for Erik Spoelstra’s team.
Butler led the Heat with 26 points, going 16 of 16 from the line. Vincent added 23 points, closing 7 of 12 on 3-pointers. From Adebayo, there were 20 points and 12 rebounds.
There also were 18 points from P.J. Tucker and 16 from Duncan Robinson, as the Heat won for the 14th time in their last 18 games.
And in his first game back in the building since his Feb. 20, 2019 trade, there were 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists from Winslow, who was warmly embraced by his former teammates both before and after.
Five Degrees of Heat from Friday’s game:
— 1. The Clippers’ way: Having overcome a 35-point deficit in a Tuesday victory in Philadelphia and a 14-point deficit in a Wednesday victory in Orlando, the short-handed Clippers again showed their fortitude.
This time, what was a 23-point Heat lead earlier in the third period was down to 11 later in the quarter, before the Heat took a 96-80 lead into the fourth.
The Clippers later got within seven with 3:11 to play, before Tucker and Tyler Herro converted Heat 3-pointers. But even after that, the Clippers made it 117-113 with 33.9 seconds left after scoring four points in a six-second span.
“There definitely was some sloppy play once we got up 20,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
— 2. Vincent happened: With his six third-period 3-pointers, Vincent tied his career game high of seven, which he also had in a road victory over the 76ers this season.
“Everything felt good. I wanted to be aggressive,” Vincent said. “I blacked out a little and the ball kept going in.”
Vincent shot 6 of 8 on 3-pointers in the third. The franchise record for a quarter remains seven by Robinson, who has done it twice.
“It’s just so fun to see his progress,” Spoelstra said.
— 3. Economical offense: A game after shooting 7 of 8 in Wednesday night’s victory over the Knicks, Butler took offensive efficiency to a higher level, scoring his 26 on 12 shots from the field, with the rest of his damage coming from the line.
“That’s a major weapon,” Spoelstra said of Butler’s ability to get to the line. “I think that neutralizes a lot of runs. Even though they crawled back in the game, his free throws in the game probably held off three, four, five runs.”
With his 13th point, Butler passed Michael Beasley for 20th on the Heat all-time list.
— 4. Adebayo doubles up: Adebayo already had a double-double by the close of the third period, with 13 points and 10 rebounds at that stage.
It was Adebayo’s second double-double in his six games back from a seven-week absence with a thumb injury. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in last week’s home victory over the Trail Blazers.
It was Adebayo’s 11th double-double of the season.
“‘Bam allows us to do just a lot of dynamic things,” Spoelstra said.
— 5. Robinson roll: What once had been cast as a debate between himself and Max Strus has all but ceased. This time Robinson was up to 10 points at the intermission.
Robinson was 2 of 4 on 3-pointers in the first half, as many as the Clippers (2 of 16).
It was the fourth consecutive game Robinson had at least four 3-pointers, his lone such streak of the season. He closed 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.
With the performances of Vincent and Robinson, the Heat closed 15 of 34 on 3s, now 19-1 when shooting 40% or better on 3s.
Strus closed 2 of 7 from the field, 1 of 5 on 3-pointers.
