In Jimmy Butler‘s first game back at Kaseya Center, the Miami Heat defeated the Golden State Warriors 112-86 on Tuesday. The goal of the Heat was to defeat their former franchise star. The team as a whole collaborated effectively on both ends, which ultimately worked to their advantage and earned them their second consecutive victory.
The Heat’s All-Star duo of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo combined for 47 points. Herro finished the game with 20 points on 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. The one-time All-Star also had three rebounds and seven assists. Adebayo led the team with 27 points, eight rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.
Their victory was also significantly influenced by their supporting cast. Kel’el Ware, a rookie center who began the game, finished with 10 rebounds and 14 points. With 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, Andrew Wiggins was outstanding on both sides of the court.
Their former star player, however, only had 11 points, six rebounds and two assists on 41.7% shooting from the field. Following the game, Butler didn’t approach any of his former teammates or coaches and walked straight to the locker room.
Jimmy Butler doesn’t greet anyone from the Miami Heat after the game.
Walks directly to the locker room after the blowout loss. pic.twitter.com/7NB9no4SWf
— Alejandro Solana (@AlexMSolana) March 26, 2025
The Heat performed a video tribute to Butler before the game. Following the game, he expressed his gratitude for the franchise’s video homage.
“It took me back to some good times when I was wearing the Miami Heat jersey,” Butler said. “Very appreciative of the times that helped me become the player that I am in this league, the individual that I am in this league, teammate, leader, all those things. I don’t think I could be who I am today without my opportunity here.”
Jimmy Butler said Miami’s pregame tribute video took him back “to some good times” playing for the Heat.
“I don’t think I could be who I am today without my opportunity here.”
More: pic.twitter.com/iisn9lrauu
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) March 26, 2025
Butler wants Miami Heat fans to be fair in criticizing his departure
Butler and the Miami Heat had a messy split. The former Chicago Bulls player wants both parties to move on from their painful split, even if it resulted in the team suspending him several times for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
However, Butler wants fans to look at the eventual trade fairly.
“I’m always painted as the bad guy,” Butler said. “Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve always been a problem. We’ll take it. I don’t got nothing to say. I’m not mad at being a bad guy. It’s all the way everything’s portrayed. Some people talk to the media, some people don’t. I’ve never been one to tell my side of the story to almost anybody. Let everybody think that this is what happened. We’ll ride with it.
“I wonder if they look at the Heat the same way,” the forward said about the Miami Heat. “It ain’t like I was the one who was doing everything. It’s got to be 50-50, maybe 51-49 — 49 towards them, 51 towards me. But there’s no way that I was the cause of all of this.”
With the Warriors, Butler is at peace and has given the franchise a breath of fresh air and a chance for them to contend for the title.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
