Butler, Heat set NBA free throw record, beat OKC 112-111
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E-mail Xinhua, January 11, 2023
Joel Embiid and James Harden combined to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the Detroit Pistons 147-116, while the Miami Heat squeaked past the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-111 with a record shooting performance from the free throw line on Tuesday.
Embiid, returning after a three-game absence with a sore left foot, had 36 points and 11 rebounds. Harden finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists for his second straight triple-double.
The game was never in doubt as the Sixers raced into a 22-point lead in the first half against the side with the worst record in the Eastern Conference. After pouring in 42 points in the third quarter, the Sixers sat their starters in the fourth.
Saddiq Bey, Jaden Ivey and Rodney McGruder scored 17 points apiece for the Pistons.
It was free throws that had a say in the Heat's narrow win. The Heat made all 40 of their free throws, topping the previous 39-for-39 mark by the Utah Jazz against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 7, 1982.
Jimmy Butler went 23 for 23 from the free throw line, tying Dominique Wilkins for the second-most shots without a miss in NBA history.
Butler's last foul shot came with 12.9 seconds remaining when he converted a three-point play. He had a game-high 35 points for Miami, which used only eight players and was down to seven when Dewayne Dedmon was ejected in the second quarter.
Max Strus scored 22 points and Victor Oladipo had 19 for the injury-depleted Heat.
Stephen Curry scored 24 points upon returning to the Golden State Warriors' lineup after an 11-game absence with a partially dislocated left shoulder, but his return was spoiled by the Phoenix Suns' 125-113 win over the defending champions.
Donovan Mitchell had 46 points on his return to Utah, but the Jazz rallied to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114.
Other action saw the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets 132-120, the Orlando Magic hold off the Portland Trail Blazers 109-106, and the Los Angeles Clippers overcome the Dallas Mavericks 113-101.
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