AP

Heat snap 4-game losing streak by topping Kings, 123-100

Mar 28, 2022, 6:54 AM | Updated: 7:33 pm

Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon (21) attempts to block a shot to the basket by Sacramento Kings fo...

Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon (21) attempts to block a shot to the basket by Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

(AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)


              Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon (21) attempts to block a shot to the basket by Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Max Strus, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon (21) attempts to block a shot to the basket by Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings center Damian Jones (30) attempts a 3-point basket over Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) grabs the ball as Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker (17) runs behind him during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell (15) dribbles around Miami Heat guard Max Strus (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) aims to dunk as Sacramento Kings center Damian Jones (30) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings guard Jeremy Lamb (26) grabs a rebound over Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings head coach Alvin Gentry gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
            
              Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell, right, dribbles around Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

MIAMI (AP) — The worst losing streak of Miami’s season is over. Not only that, but the Heat returned to the top of the Eastern Conference.

And now a road trip with massive seeding implications awaits.

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, Bam Adebayo added 22 points and 15 rebounds, and the Heat beat the Sacramento Kings 123-100 on Monday night to stop a four-game slide.

Tyler Herro had 20 for the Heat, who improved to 36-5 when scoring at least 110 points.

“Felt amazing to get back in the winning column,” Herro said.

The Heat (48-28) are leading the East again, a game ahead of No. 2 Milwaukee and No. 3 Philadelphia (both 46-28, with the Bucks holding the tiebreaker edge there). Boston started the day No. 1 in the East; the Celtics (47-29) fell to fourth, percentage points behind the Bucks and 76ers after losing to Toronto.

“We got back to being who we are,” Butler said.

Davion Mitchell scored 21 points for Sacramento, which got 17 from Harrison Barnes.

Miami’s 23-point victory margin was its largest since a 24-point win at Atlanta on Jan. 12. And Miami looked exactly the way Kings coach Alvin Gentry expected — especially after the Heat had dropped their last four.

“I don’t read a whole lot into that,” Gentry said. “I think if you look at their team and the way they go out, they will be a huge factor when the playoffs start anyway. I think it’s a wakeup call.”

Sure looked like one. Sacramento scored the first six points, Miami scored the next nine and never trailed again.

Damian Jones had 15 points, Donte DiVincenzo 12 and Trey Lyles 11 for the Kings.

After spending most of March at home — the Heat have played 11 of their last 12 games in their own building — a three-game road swing starts Wednesday in Boston. It moves to Chicago on Saturday, then Toronto on Sunday for what will be a celebration of Kyle Lowry’s time with the Raptors and probably a game with significant seeding implications for both clubs.

“It’s always good to compete for something,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s not the end-all, be-all. It’s a really competitive race in the East. This is what you always want. You want the games to have meaning and context and significance to them. That’s basically every game right now in the Eastern Conference. That makes it very compelling.”

Miami inserted Max Strus — celebrating his 26th birthday — into the lineup for Duncan Robinson. The move came with Robinson averaging 8.4 points on 32% shooting from 3-point range in his last seven games, one of several rough stretches he’s had this season.

“These are tough decisions,” Spoelstra said.

But it worked wonders for Robinson. He had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point territory.

“Good to get back on track,” Robinson said.

TIP-INS

Kings: Sacramento isn’t sure if De’Aaron Fox (sore right hand) and Domantas Sabonis (bruised left knee) will return this season. “They’re trying to get to the point where they can come back,” Gentry said. … Sacramento went 10-20 vs. Eastern Conference teams this season.

Heat: Miami finished 18-12 against the Western Conference, its best mark since going 20-10 in 2013-14. … The lineup shakeup led to Miami using its 19th different starting five this season. The Heat are 9-2 when Strus starts.

BEST (AND WORST)

Miami is 29-5 (.853) all-time at home against Sacramento, by far the best record the Heat have on their own floor against any opponent. The Kings franchise — including the Cincinnati and Kansas City days — struggles in Miami like nowhere else; its second-worst road record all-time comes on trips to Portland, where Kings teams have gone 19-90 (.174).

RESPECT

When Miami Hurricanes coach Jim Larrañaga was introduced and acknowledged cheers from his seat during a second quarter timeout, Spoelstra — who doesn’t always pay attention to what’s happening during stoppages in play — was among those who clapped and pointed his way. Larrañaga and the Hurricanes lost to Kansas in the Elite Eight on Sunday, ending the deepest NCAA Tournament run in school history.

UP NEXT

Kings: Visit Houston on Wednesday.

Heat: Visit Boston on Wednesday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Heat snap 4-game losing streak by topping Kings, 123-100