Heat strongman Butler put in a solid performance to lead Miami to a valuable win, also dished out 12 assists.

Cody Zeller provided offensive support with 20 points, while Kevin Love and Max Strus added 18 points each, and Tyler Herro finished with 15 points.

Opposite, Luka Doncic led the charge with 42 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr finished with 31 points. Kyrie Irving scored 23 but failed to influence the game.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was pleased that his team was able to regain its offensive rhythm after scoring just 92 points in each of its last two games.

"We knew we were going to have to put pressure on them offensively and during the game we managed to put them on their heels, and Jimmy controlled the tenor and tempo of the game," Spoelstra said.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd blamed the loss on his team's shaky defense.

"Timmy (Hardaway), Ky (Irving) and Luka kept us in the game," he said. "We just didn't manage to take advantage of our bench tonight."

Miami Heat center Cody Zeller shoots Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green (l) during a regular-season NBA game in Miami on April 1, 2023 © Megan Briggs/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Decisive Ingram

Miami has improved its record (41 wins-37 losses) and remains seventh in the Eastern Conference, one win behind the Brooklyn Nets (6th), in search of an automatic place in the playoffs.

Conversely, Dallas conceded another painful setback that brings it closer to an early end to the season a year after reaching the Western Conference finals.

The Mavs remain eleventh with a 37-41 record and are now one game behind the 10th-placed Oklahoma City Thunder, who occupy the final jump seat for the play-ins (mini-playoff qualifying tournament).

The Thunder will still be ahead of the Mavericks in the standings even if they are tied for wins. Dallas, which has lost six of its last seven games, has just four regular-season games left to fight its way to the playoffs.

In the other game of the evening, the New Orleans Pelicans, still without Zion Williamson, maintained their momentum towards the playoffs by winning at home against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Brandon Ingram had a solid performance for the locals with 36 points and eight assists, well helped by Lithuanian pivot Jonas Valanciunas (23 points, 12 rebounds).

Kawhi Leonard's 40 points and eight rebounds weren't enough for the LA franchise.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram during an NBA game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento on March 6, 2023 © EZRA SHAW/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives

The Pelicans are now seventh in the Western Conference with a 40-38 record, one win behind the sixth-placed Clippers, who have one game more.

The Lakers, who have played two fewer games than the Clippers, drop to 8th place with 39 wins for 38 losses.

© 2023 AFP