Jimmy Butler on his game-winning defensive play on Devin Booker: "I knew I had to get my hand up on one of em"
Jimmy Butler just knew he had to get the job done. Butler blocked Devin Booker's shot in the final seconds of the contest between the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat as the Heat held on to win 113-112 on Monday. Speaking about his defensive heroics against Booker, Butler told the media:
“Just a basketball play. Got lucky to not foul and block the shot. He made a couple tough ones beforehand but I knew I had to get my hand up on one of em. Got the block and won the game.”
Butler also paid tribute to Booker, saying the Phoenix guard is a great player but he was willing to live with any result provided he contested the shot. He commented in this regard:
"We can guard anybody as long as we're helping one another, knowing where everybody is on the floor. We know he was going to have the ball. We know he makes and takes tough shots."
Butler added:
"That's what really great players do in this league. He is one of those guys. But I think as long as we contest the shot without fouling, I did foul him one time, just contest the shot, we'll live with the outcome."
While Butler may have put his stellar defensive job on Booker down to pluck and luck, Bam Adebayo fawned over his teammate's effort with six seconds left in the game. Adebayo told the media:
"That’s one that goes down in history. That was an unbelievable block."
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was also full of praise for his veteran shooting guard. Spoelstar said:
“Jimmy’s never shying away from guarding the other team’s best player. You need someone with Jimmy's ferocity, but also his brain.”
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combine to lift Miami Heat to 0.500 record with a win over Phoenix Suns
The Heat trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns. But Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combined to ensure the Heat walked away with the win on their home floor.
Besides his game-saving block, Butler finished with a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) and was three assists shy of tallying a triple-double (seven assists).
Adebayo complemented Butler's effort with 30 points and 10 rebounds. The power forward also hit a pair of go-ahead free throws with 35 seconds left that gave Miami the one-point victory.
Jimmy Butler credited Adebayo for Miami's come-from-behind victory.
"Bam got helluva aggressive. He got to the line."
Butler elaborated on the importance of Adebayo and his role in pushing the ball up the floor in Miami's win:
"I think you really need to pay attention to everybody. Bam's always looking to get everbody involved, but then whenever he's attacking in the open floor, you gotta guard the shooters. You gotta know where Caleb [Martin] is when he's cutting, when I'm cutting."
He added:
"That just gives Bam free range to be aggressive and get to the bucket. Get to the free throw line and to the middy [mid-range] if he wants to. When he's playing like that, we're very difficult to beat and, on top of everything else, he's back there in being an anchor of defense. It's a tough job to do but he handles it pretty well."