MIAMI — The difference this time was Jimmy Butler was not there at the finish to save the night at FTX Arena, as he did a night earlier in the victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Perhaps it was hubris by the Miami Heat, thinking they could rest Butler on a night the Sacramento Kings were without ailing De’Aaron Fox. Perhaps Butler’s hip actually was sore.
But with Butler unavailable, closing time turned into something far different Wednesday night, but equally satisfying, with the Heat pushing past the Kings, 110-107.
