All U Can Heat
Fansided

Three of Jimmy Butler’s best games against the Miami Heat

By Allana Tachauer

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat during the game on November 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat during the game on November 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena on October 30, 2017 in Miami Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena on October 30, 2017 in Miami Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

October 30, 2017

The Timberwolves only matched up with Miami twice last season; once in South Florida at the end of October, and the other back in Minnesota, in November. They split the series 1-1, with the Timberwolves first taking an 125-122 win over the Heat, and then Miami coming out on top 109-97.

While Butler didn’t have showstopping performances in either contest, he did show how versatile he can be, on October 30.

He totaled 16 points in 40 minutes, while shooting 5-for-13 from the field, as well as five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

In other words, he aided his team in their victory by doing a little bit of everything.

Jeff Teague finished with 23 points, while Andrew Wiggins had 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points.

Meanwhile, the Heat were led by Dion Waiters, who scored 33 points on 14-for-28 shooting from the floor, while Adebayo recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.0 steals a game last year, seeing time in 59 contests, for an average of 36.7 minutes. Minnesota finished the season at 47-35, just making it into the 2018 NBA Playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

The season prior, they went just 31-51, coming in at thirteenth in the West.

As for Miami, they were 44-38 in 2017-18 play, seeding sixth in the Eastern Conference before falling short 4-1 to the Philadelphia 76ers, in the first round of the playoffs.

With the 2018-19 NBA season tipping off tomorrow, for now, it appears as though Butler will continue forward as a member of the Timberwolves.

Next. Miami Heat Roundtable: What does Justise Winslow's future look like?. dark

But unless he joins the team, regardless of where he ends up in the future, it’s safe to say he’ll always play hard against the Miami Heat.

Home/Heat News