With 4:54 left in the second quarter, the last-in-the-West Houston Rockets took a 13-point lead over the top-of-the-East Miami Heat. By halftime, the Heat grabbed a four-point lead. And Miami took control to let Jimmy Butler rest for the entire fourth quarter.
After a lackadaisical start, the Heat dominated the Rockets 123-106 in Victor Oladipo’s season debut to improve to 44-22 on the season.
Butler and Tyler Herro powered the way for Miami during this decisive run, one that grew to 22-3 in a span that bridged the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third.