Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro led the Miami Heat (9-8) to a 121-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors (5-15) in NBA Cup action on Friday night. Butler scored 26 points, and Herro added 23 as Miami improved to 9-8 for the season and 3-0 in tournament play.
The Heat connected on 21 of their 54 three-point attempts, marking the third-most attempts from beyond the arc in franchise history. Bam Adebayo contributed a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds, while rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 15 points off the bench.
Scottie Barnes recorded a triple-double for the Raptors with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Toronto’s fifth consecutive loss. RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 25 points, and Jakob Poeltl was nearly flawless, scoring 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds.
For Miami, this victory highlighted their offensive depth. All 10 players who saw the floor attempted at least two three-pointers, a first in team history. Bench contributions included Terry Rozier’s 12 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting and Kevin Love’s eight points in just over 13 minutes.
The Raptors struggled defensively, allowing Miami to shoot 45.7% from the field and nearly 39% from deep. Despite shooting 53.8% overall, Toronto couldn’t overcome their 18 turnovers and Miami’s superior ball movement, which resulted in 32 assists for the Heat.
This win keeps Miami in contention for the knockout stage of the NBA Cup, as they continue their upward trajectory following Butler’s return from an ankle injury. The Raptors, now 0-3 in NBA Cup play, have been eliminated from advancing in the tournament.
