Following a 1-4 start to the season, the Heat has won seven consecutive regular-season games for the first time in over six years. The Heat got off to a sluggish start, shooting 1 of 11 from the field and 1 of 6 from three-point range.

However, the Nets were unable to capitalize on the Heat’s poor start, as Brooklyn’s largest lead in the first quarter was six points.

The Heat overcame a slow offensive start to close the first half with 60 points on 8-of-20 (40 percent) three-point shooting, finishing the second quarter on a 14-0 run to transform a six-point deficit into an eight-point halftime lead.

After a 16-point first half from Heat star Jimmy Butler, he absolutely took control with an 18-point third quarter as Miami took its first double-digit lead of the game.

The Heat led by as much as 14 points in the third quarter, and entered the fourth quarter leading 95-83. With Butler on the bench to start the fourth quarter, the Heat built a 17-point lead thanks to eight early points from Duncan Robinson in the opening five minutes.

Butler returned with 5:29 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Heat held off the Nets despite a late surge. The Nets reduced the lead to seven points in the final minutes, but that was the closest they came.

Butler finished with a season-high 36 points on 12-of-19 field shooting, 2-of-5 three-point shooting, and 10-of-11 foul line shooting, as well as five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks.

Robinson scored 26 points on 8-of-14 field goal shooting and 6-of-10 three-point shooting.

Bam Adebayo finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block for the Heat. The Heat’s win on Thursday ended a five-game losing streak versus the Nets dating back to the 2021-22 season. In reality, the Heat’s most recent defeat came on November 1 against the Nets at Kaseya Center.

Thursday’s victory was also the Heat’s sixth in a row following a 1-4 start to the season. It is the Heat’s first seven-game winning run in the regular season since a seven-game winning streak ended in January 2018.

The Heat will try to extend their winning streak to eight games against the Bulls on Saturday in Chicago.