Jimmy Butler scores 26 points, Heat hold off late Clippers rally

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Jimmy Butler scored 26 points and the Miami Heat withstood another furious comeback from the Los Angeles Clippers during a 121-114 victory Friday night.

Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who have won 10 of 12. Gabe Vincent finished with 23 points.

The Eastern Conference-leading Heat snapped a six-game losing streak against the Clippers. Miami’s last win over Los Angeles was on Dec. 8, 2018.

"It’s one of those things, we’ve got to learn how to play with leads, big leads at that," Adebayo said. "Got to learn how to not let them come back, get those timely stops, get those timely buckets where it creates that distance."

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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Down 23 late in the third period, the Clippers closed to 117-113 on Amir Coffey’s layup with 33 seconds remaining. Butler hit four foul shots on Miami’s final two possessions to secure the win. He converted all 16 of his free-throw attempts.

"We don’t want to keep getting down for sure," Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue said. "We are going to keep battling, keep fighting. I just think in the huddle, coming back, we just try to get some energy guys back in the game once the lead kind of goes south."

For Los Angeles, the late rally followed the team’s historic 35-point comeback in its 116-115 win over Washington on Tuesday.

Luke Kennard scored 23 points for the Clippers, including 16 in the fourth quarter. Eric Bledsoe finished with 19 points and Coffey had 15.

"We always give