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NBA: Butler stars as Heat break free-throw record to down Thunder

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 8, 2023 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. Issac Baldizon, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/afp/01/11/nba_mia-jimmy-butler-2_afp.jpg"/><figcaption>Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 8, 2023 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida.<em> Issac Baldizon, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- (UPDATED) Jimmy Butler led a record-breaking shooting display from the free-throw line as the Miami Heat edged past the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-111 on Tuesday.</p><p>Miami talisman Butler finished with a perfect 23-of-23 free throws -- including a clutch game-winner with just under 13 seconds remaining -- in a nail-biting victory at the FTX Arena.</p><p>Butler&#x27;s haul was part of a remarkable 40-for-40 free throws made by Miami, breaking the old record of 39-for-39 made by Utah against Portland in 1982.</p><p>Butler said afterwards he had been oblivious to Miami&#x27;s record-breaking night from the foul line.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9YDxUymBUA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>&quot;I had no idea,&quot; Butler told reporters. &quot;I&#x27;m more excited that we won this game by one point.&quot;</p><p>Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was also unaware of his team&#x27;s free-throw record.</p><p>&quot;I didn&#x27;t realize we hadn&#x27;t missed a free throw,&quot; Spoelstra said. &quot;We&#x27;ve been a very good free-throw shooting team all year, but that&#x27;s crazy.&quot;</p><p>Miami trailed 111-106 with less than a minute remaining but fought back with a Victor Oladipo three-pointer and a Butler layup to tie the game.</p><p>Butler&#x27;s 23rd free throw of the night edged Miami into a one-point lead with just under 13 seconds remaining before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander&#x27;s attempted three-pointer to win it for Oklahoma City bounced off the rim.</p><p>&quot;We had to make some plays and we did,&quot; Spoelstra said of his team&#x27;s last-minute rally.</p><p>Miami improved to 22-20 while the Thunder fell to 18-23.</p><p>- Embiid returns -</p><p>Elsewhere there were contrasting fortunes for Philadelphia&#x27;s Joel Embiid and Golden State&#x27;s Stephen Curry as they returned from injury.</p><p>Sixers ace Embiid had missed three straight games with a minor foot injury heading into Tuesday&#x27;s Eastern Conference clash against lowly Detroit.</p><p>But the two-time MVP runner-up looked back to his dominant self with 36 points in just 23 minutes on court as Philadelphia romped to a 147-116 victory at the Wells Fargo Center.</p><p>Embiid&#x27;s points tally came from 12-of-20 shooting, while the Sixers big man also chipped in with 11 rebounds and two blocks.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MP4jZ4IOIs0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>James Harden and Tyrese Maxey added 16 points each while Tobias Harris had 14 points as Philadelphia led from start to finish to improve to 25-15.</p><p>Harden&#x27;s points tally was part of a second straight triple double. The 10-time All-Star added 12 rebounds and 15 assists.</p><p>After jumping out to a 65-43 half-time lead, the Sixers cut loose in a blizzard of scoring in the third quarter with 42 points before adding 40 more in the fourth.</p><p>Philadelphia remain in fifth place in the East, 3.5 games adrift of leaders Boston. Detroit are rooted to the foot of the table with a dismal 11-33 record.</p><p>But there was disappointment for Warriors star Curry in San Francisco as he returned from an 11-game absence to face a Phoenix Suns team decimated by injuries.</p><p>Curry scored 24 points -- including five three-pointers -- but was unable to stop the Warriors falling 125-113 to Phoenix.</p><p>Mikal Bridges top-scored for Phoenix with 26 points.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z0IyCFkyF8A?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>In Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard&#x27;s 33 points helped the Clippers complete a 113-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks.</p><p>Luka Doncic led the game scoring with 43 points for Dallas, but the Mavs were chasing the game from the outset as the Clippers completed a wire-to-wire win.</p><p>In Salt Lake City, Jordan Clarkson&#x27;s 32-point performance, including a crucial 9-0 run in the fourth quarter, helped the Utah Jazz upset the high-flying Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114.</p><p>Lauri Markkanen added support with 25 points while Malik Beasley, Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker all chipped in with 13 points each.</p><p>Cleveland&#x27;s Donovan Mitchell produced another high-scoring performance with 46 points but it was not enough to deny Utah victory.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

Jimmy Butler led a record-breaking shooting display from the free throw line as the Miami Heat edged past the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. 