MIAMI—Jimmy Butler is different. Some players hit beaches over All-Star break; Butler went to Argentina to watch tennis and learn about coffee. Some players rest with one day off between games; Butler spent 10 hours flying round-trip to be at Pau Gasol’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey retirement one night and back in Miami for shootaround…

LOS ANGELES—Dennis Schroder scored 14 of his season-high 32 points in the fourth quarter and the undermanned Los Angeles Lakers improbably overcame LeBron James’ absence for a 112–109 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, Jan.4. Russell Westbrook had 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who rallied from a six-point…

Bam Adebayo scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Jimmy Butler scored 26 points on 10–of–12 shooting from the floor and the Miami Heat handed the visiting Los Angeles Clippers their second loss in as many nights, 115–110 on Thursday. Butler’s brilliant shooting night kicked into overdrive down the stretch, as Miami’s season-long leading scorer…

MIAMI—Not this time. After being thwarted on the doorstep of the NBA Finals three other times in the previous five seasons, the Boston Celtics have broken through. The beasts of the East, again. And now a chance at an NBA title awaits. Eastern Conference finals MVP Jayson Tatum led the way with 26 points, Jaylen…

Devin Booker returned from a four-game COVID-protocol absence and had a near triple-double, helping the Phoenix Suns clinch the NBA’s first playoff spot with a 111–90 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Booker finished with 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Phoenix also got 21 points from Mikal Bridges and 19…

PHOENIX—Tyler Herro had his best scoring game of the season. Duncan Robinson did, too. It all added up to a blowout win for the Miami Heat, who tied a franchise record with 22 3-pointers in a 123–100 victory over the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. Herro poured in 33 points while Robinson added 27….

SAN FRANCISCO—Jordan Poole spent a quarantine period in Boston doing jumping jacks, burpees, mountain climbers and anything else he could to keep his conditioning up while stuck in a hotel room. Poole scored 32 points in his new reserve role, Andrew Wiggins added 22 points and a key driving dunk with 4:34 remaining on a…

Andrew Wiggins scorched his old team for a season-high 35 points Wednesday night as the Golden State Warriors overcame a career-best 48-point performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards for a 123–110 victory at San Francisco. Stephen Curry chipped in with 25 points for the Warriors, who won a sixth straight despite losing Draymond Green…

LOS ANGELES—With the most important player on both of these super-teams out of action, the Heat’s visit to the Lakers had to be decided by which supporting cast came through down the stretch. Miami surged ahead in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers answered. After Los Angeles took control in overtime, the Heat just missed—repeatedly….

MIAMI—On their respective ways to the NBA Finals last season, there was one important element missing for both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. No fans were there. That changes for last year’s finalists on Thursday night, when the Lakers play host to Phoenix and the Heat return home to face Milwaukee in a…