The blow that ultimately turned out the lights on the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and probably beyond, came late in the first quarter and not those final, frantic seconds at the end of the game. Jimmy Butler went up for a shot then under the basket and landed awkwardly on the extended leg of Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre.

Butler lay like a fallen oak on the floor in pain that was mirrored on the televised faces of Heat president Pat Riley and its vice president of scowling, Alonzo Mourning. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, looking for some karmic justice, asked the refs what happened there in harder language.

Butler got up and tried to limp off the injury. He made some big plays off his basketball smarts as the Heat built a 13-point lead at half. He tried to tough through the second half. But, well, there was no hiding the truth of the injury when the Heat sunk in the final minutes.

Playoff Jimmy was Peg-leg Jimmy.

“He could still move a little bit in the second quarter, but as the second half went on he was more limited,’’ Spoelstra said after the 105-104 play-in loss to Philadelphia. “But we have no idea what now. We’ll see when we get back to Miami.”

There’s no crying over this. Not when you let your season come down to one night. Not when you’ve had the good fortune of opposing injuries in recent years (Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 1 last year, Jayson Tatum in Game 7).

It’s just unfortunate Butler got hurt to go with Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier. And instead of going on to play the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs the Heat return to Miami on Friday night for another play-in game to see if they make the playoffs.

And then would play top seed Boston, the lone great team in the East.

“We’ll do this the hard way,’’ Spoelstra said. “That has to be the path right now.”

The shame is they were right there, too. Their first half made this team look whole in a way they hadn’t much all season. Oh, it started ugly enough. Ugly seems to be part of their story.

They had three turnovers in the first three minutes, made two of their first 11 shots, Bam Adebayo went to the bench with two early fouls and then real calamity happened when Butler crumpled to the floor.

Still, they were right there. Spoelstra unwrapped a amoeba-like zone defense with shifting specters and changing roles that also kept Adebayo from having to cover 7-foot Joel Embiid. Philadelphia acted like it had never seen a zone. It shot a measly 32.6 percent in the first half with 12 turnovers.

Philadelphia fans, bless them, began booing.

The Heat led at half 51-39. That lead shrunk to five points after three quarters. Even then the script was a surprise as Butler and Tyler Herro were a combined 8-for-33 shooting. You wondered how the Heat could hold on. Answer: They couldn’t.

Philly took the lead on a Nicolas Batum 3-pointer at 79-76. Batum is another danger of a one-game series like this. He averaged 5.5 points in the regular season. He had 20 off the bench in this one, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers.

Another problem for the Heat became Embiid. He came alive. Shooting. Passing. Defending. He’s been hurt much of the last couple of months, but he turned on his game when Philadelphia needed him in the fourth quarter.

The Heat typically turn to Butler for winning time in big games. Instead, with a one-point lead, there was rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., who had a nice game, turning the ball over with under three minutes to play.

Then, after making a shot, Herro stepped on the midcourt line for a violation in a tie game with 55.1 seconds left. Philadelphia’s Oubre got a three-point play on the ensuing possession. That was that for the game.

There’s no excuses or crying for the Heat. They put themselves in a position where that injury to Butler effectively sank them. You winced watching him run the court. You rubbed your knee in sympathy at timeouts.

You now wonder how he can possibly be whole by Friday night. He finished with 19 points Wednesday, but was a non-factor by the end in a way he rarely is in big games.

It’s not the hard way now, as Spoelstra called it. That was last year when the Heat rose from this last play-in game to the NBA Finals.

This is the hardest way. Down three of your top eight players, including your one playoff star, isn’t any way to save the season.

 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/18/dave-hyde-jimmy-butler-goes-down-and-miami-heat-cant-hold-up-without-him/

The Chicago Bulls advanced to the second round of the NBA Play-In Tournament for the second consecutive year, cruising to a 131-116 victory against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night at the United Center.

The Bulls will face the Heat at 6 p.m. Friday in Miami with the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs on the line.

Coby White delivered a decisive performance after a breakout regular season, totaling 42 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and zero turnovers. It was the highest-scoring night for White in an NBA game, but play-in tournament statistics don’t count.

Nikola Vučević supported White with 24 points and 12 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan added 22 points and nine assists.

Despite missing the final week of the season and being questionable as of Wednesday morning, Ayo Dosunmu (right quad bruise) and Andre Drummond (left ankle sprain) played. Dosunmu keyed in defensively to hold Trae Young to 4-for-12 shooting while scoring 19 points. Drummond played only 11 minutes but managed four rebounds and three blocks.

The Bulls toyed with a lead throughout the first half, but they flipped a switch in the third quarter, ripping off an 18-2 run highlighted by acrobatic moves to the basket from Dosunmu and White and a thunderous dunk from Javonte Green.

The Bulls will face the Heat in a rematch of last year’s play-in tournament matchup to determine which team advances to face the top-seeded Boston Celtics. The game will provide a decisive test for the Bulls – one that could be played without Heat star Jimmy Butler, who might have suffered an MCL injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers that could sideline him indefinitely, according The Athletic.

If the Bulls win in Miami, they will face the top-seeded Celtics in a Sunday matinee. It would be their first trip to the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in a first-round series.

Photos: Chicago Bulls beat Atlanta Hawks 131-116 in NBA Play-In Tournament

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/18/chicago-bulls-atlanta-hawks-play-in-tournament/

Here are Orlando area high school scores and top performers from Wednesday, April 17:

Baseball

Windermere 4, Boone 0

Buzz: Jack Waddingham went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Wolverines (19-3). Aidan Reyes and Randy Ruiz each had an RBI. Yomar Infante pitched 6 innings, only allowing a hit.

Hagerty 5, Lake Brantley 1

Buzz: Isaac Padilla went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a double for the Patriots (14-7). Justis Mike went 1-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and a double. Ryley Chapman went 2-for-2 with a walk.

Timber Creek 2, East River 0

Buzz: Brody Juntunen pitched 7 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits for the Wolves (15-5). He struck out 7 batters in the win. Gabe DeCardenas and Brian Kendall each had an RBI. Ty Kennedy went 1-for-3 for the Falcons (10-8).

Cypress Creek 3, Freedom 0

Buzz: Julius Rivera went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI and a sacrifice fly for the Bears (12-8). Nicholas Colon pitched 6 no-hit innings and racked up 7 strikeouts in the win.

Trinity Prep 14, The Geneva School 0

Buzz: Nathaniel Davis went 1-for-3 with 3 RBI for the Saints (6-11). Bryce Moore went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and 2 doubles. Braeden Henderson and Isaac Robinson each had 2 RBI.

Legacy Charter 11, Lake Mary Prep 1

Buzz: Liam Lamprecht went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored for the Eagles (6-4). Noah Michelson went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Landon Casey pitched five innings, allowing an earned run. Casey had 8 strikeouts in the win.

Horizon 6, Edgewater 2

Buzz: Luke Helms earned the win, pitching 5 innings for the Hawks. Helms allowed no runs and struck out 6. He added an RBI single.  Sebastian Vargas went 3-for-3 while Alex Galan went 2-for-3 with a double.

Windermere Prep 19, Liberty 9

Buzz: Matthew Conde went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI, a double, triple, 2 walks and a run scored for the Chargers (0-17).

Colonial 12, Oak Ridge 2

Buzz: Jose Hernandez went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a hit-by-pitch for the Pioneers (4-12-1).

Other scores:

Lake Mary 7, Viera 1

Lake Nona 4, Olympia 2

Orlando University 16, Jones 8

Winter Park 12, Dr. Phillips 1

Lake Buena Vista 9, Ocoee 6

Wekiva 15, Evans 9

Softball

Cornerstone Charter Academy 8, Kissimmee Osceola 0 

Buzz: Ayani Hernandez went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI, a double and a run scored for the Ducks (18-3). Bekah Mitchell pitched a no-hitter. Mitchell had 9 strikeouts in the win.

Hagerty 12, Oviedo 2

Buzz: Alexandra Beldowicz led the Huskies (18-4) with a home run, 4 RBI, a double, a single and 2 runs scored. Stella Christie went 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored, a walk and a triple. Ana Roman went 2-for-3 with a home run, 2 runs scored and a walk. Ella Verne pitched a complete game,  allowing just 2 earned runs. Verne struck out 9 batters in the win. Alina Gallaher went 3-for-3. Avery Madden went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI for the Lions (8-10).

Timber Creek 18, Olympia 5

Buzz: Julia Benamati went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a double for Olympia (9-10-1). Melanie Harrison, Paola Cabrera, Makenna Rossi and Leona Masangkay each had an RBI. The Wolves improved to 13-6.

Montverde Academy 1, Horizon 0

Buzz: Ellie Ferradaz went 2-for-3 for the Hawks (15-5). Avery Velazquez pitched 7 1/3 innings in the loss. Velazquez also went 1-for-3 with a walk. Mackenzie Duncan went 2-for-3.

Eustis 7, West Orange 3

Buzz: Jensen Luke, Katie Short, Lillie Smith and Skyler Cloud each had an RBI for the Panthers (17-1). Hannah Yetter went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and a double for the Warriors (9-9). Tabitha Perry went 1-for-3 with a home run in the loss.

Windermere 18, Colonial 0

Buzz: Miranda Murch went 2-for-3 with a home run, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored and a walk for the Wolverines (15-3). Emilie Ching went 4-for-5 with a home run with 4 runs scored, 3 RBI and 2 doubles. Julia Paulsen pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just 2 hits in the win.

East River 12, Bishop Moore 5

Buzz: Jesse Irazarry went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, a double and 2 runs scored for the Falcons (13-6). Whitney Tannehill and Jenna McCormick had 2 RBI apiece. Riley Johnson went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI, 2 doubles and 2 runs scored for the Hornets (4-14).

Sanford Seminole 8, Lake Mary 6

Buzz: Anne Long had 14 strikeouts for Seminole (10-6). Long also went 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk. Addison Poe, Ava Hertz and Hurley Romero each went 2-for-4.

Winter Springs 12, Lake Nona 0

Buzz: McKenzie Cox went 1-for-2 with a 3-run home run and 4 RBI for the Bears. Alondra Maldonado went 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. Lauren Daugherty went 2-for-3 with 2 triples and 2 runs scored.

Wekiva 18, Lake Buena Vista 0

Buzz: J’adore Thompson went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, a double and a hit-by-pitch for the Mustangs (12-7). Avery Schoen, Pahola Chavez, Karina Ramas and Kyla Herrera each had an RBI.

South Lake 11, Nature Coast Tech 8

Buzz: Leila Bolden went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI for the Eagles (15-5). Destiny Johns went 1-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.

Other scores reported: 

St. Cloud 12, Harmony 5

Flagler Palm Coast 10, DeLand 0

Boys Lacrosse

DISTRICT FINALS

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 4

No. 1 seed Lake Mary 24, No. 2 Lake Brantley 1

Buzz: Daniel Quinn led the Rams (19-1) with 4 goals and an assist while Caden Harshbarger and Mitchell Campbell each added 3 goals. Parker Perales scored the only goal for the Patriots (12-7).

CLASS 1A DISTRICT 5

No. 1 Lake Highland Prep 15, No. 2 Bishop Moore 4

Buzz: The Highlanders defeated Bishop Moore (15-4) to improve to 13-2.

Girls Lacrosse

DISTRICT FINALS 

CLASS 2A DISTRICT FINAL

No. 1 Hagerty 19, No. 2 Winter Park 2

Buzz: The Huskies defeated the Wildcats (12-7) to improve to 18-3.

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 7 FINAL

No. 1 Bartow 19, No. 2 Celebration 9

Buzz: Bartow defeated Celebration (3-10) to improve to 10-3.

Girls Flag Football

REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

CLASS 1A REGION 3

No. 1 Wildwood 20, No. 8 Mainland 12

5 Weeki Wachi (10-2) at 4 Jones (8-2)

CLASS 1A REGION 4

No. 4 Brandon (11-2) 25, No. 5 Gateway (13-5) 0

8 Davenport at 1 Tampa Robinson

Beach Volleyball 

Horizon 4, Boone 1

Buzz: Horizon improved to 10-2 overall heading into next week’s district championship tournament. Juliana Neves and Kiera Vazquez won 2-0. Maria Rodriguez and Stefany Ortiz won 2-0. Evelyn Slattery and Kenzie Vazquez won 2-0. Camryn Teasley and Diosa Herrera lost 0-2. Sara Hernandez and Nedah Hamimaz won 2-1.

Other scores:
Timber Creek 5, The Master’s Academy 0

Girls Tennis

Gateway won District 13 with 17 points. At No. 1 singles, Anaila Cooks won 3-6, 6-4, tiebreaker 10-4. Horizon’s Giovana Biffe won No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. Cooks qualified for the state championship on the No. 1 singles line. Gateway will host a regional semifinal on Tuesday.

Boys Volleyball

Boone 3, Harmony 2

Dr. Phillips 3, Colonial 0

Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com. 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/17/high-school-scores-stats-0417/

The blow that ultimately turned out the lights on the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and probably beyond, came late in the first quarter and not those final, frantic seconds at the end of the game. Jimmy Butler went up for a shot then under the basket and landed awkwardly on the extended leg of Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre.

Butler lay like a fallen oak on the floor in pain that was mirrored on the televised faces of Heat president Pat Riley and its vice president of scowling, Alonzo Mourning. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, looking for some karmic justice, asked the refs what happened there in harder language.

Butler got up and tried to limp off the injury. He made some big plays off his basketball smarts as the Heat built a 13-point lead at half. He tried to tough through the second half. But, well, there was no hiding the truth of the injury when the Heat sunk in the final minutes.

Playoff Jimmy was Peg-leg Jimmy.

“He could still move a little bit in the second quarter, but as the second half went on he was more limited,’’ Spoelstra said after the 105-104 play-in loss to Philadelphia. “But we have no idea what now. We’ll see when we get back to Miami.”

There’s no crying over this. Not when you let your season come down to one night. Not when you’ve had the good fortune of opposing injuries in recent years (Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 1 last year, Jayson Tatum in Game 7).

It’s just unfortunate Butler got hurt to go with Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier. And instead of going on to play the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs the Heat return to Miami on Friday night for another play-in game to see if they make the playoffs.

And then would play top seed Boston, the lone great team in the East.

“We’ll do this the hard way,’’ Spoelstra said. “That has to be the path right now.”

The shame is they were right there, too. Their first half made this team look whole in a way they hadn’t much all season. Oh, it started ugly enough. Ugly seems to be part of their story.

They had three turnovers in the first three minutes, made two of their first 11 shots, Bam Adebayo went to the bench with two early fouls and then real calamity happened when Butler crumpled to the floor.

Still, they were right there. Spoelstra unwrapped a amoeba-like zone defense with shifting specters and changing roles that also kept Adebayo from having to cover 7-foot Joel Embiid. Philadelphia acted like it had never seen a zone. It shot a measly 32.6 percent in the first half with 12 turnovers.

Philadelphia fans, bless them, began booing.

The Heat led at half 51-39. That lead shrunk to five points after three quarters. Even then the script was a surprise as Butler and Tyler Herro were a combined 8-for-33 shooting. You wondered how the Heat could hold on. Answer: They couldn’t.

Philly took the lead on a Nicolas Batum 3-pointer at 79-76. Batum is another danger of a one-game series like this. He averaged 5.5 points in the regular season. He had 20 off the bench in this one, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers.

Another problem for the Heat became Embiid. He came alive. Shooting. Passing. Defending. He’s been hurt much of the last couple of months, but he turned on his game when Philadelphia needed him in the fourth quarter.

The Heat typically turn to Butler for winning time in big games. Instead, with a one-point lead, there was rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., who had a nice game, turning the ball over with under three minutes to play.

Then, after making a shot, Herro stepped on the midcourt line for a violation in a tie game with 55.1 seconds left. Philadelphia’s Oubre got a three-point play on the ensuing possession. That was that for the game.

There’s no excuses or crying for the Heat. They put themselves in a position where that injury to Butler effectively sank them. You winced watching him run the court. You rubbed your knee in sympathy at timeouts.

You now wonder how he can possibly be whole by Friday night. He finished with 19 points Wednesday, but was a non-factor by the end in a way he rarely is in big games.

It’s not the hard way now, as Spoelstra called it. That was last year when the Heat rose from this last play-in game to the NBA Finals.

This is the hardest way. Down three of your top eight players, including your one playoff star, isn’t any way to save the season.

 

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/04/17/dave-hyde-jimmy-butler-goes-down-and-miami-heat-cant-hold-up-without-him-2/