Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) looks to pass as Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) MIAMI (AP) — Every Jazz-Heat game in Miami for the last seven seasons has played out the same way. They’ve all been close, all the way to the end. And Miami wins. Jimmy Butler scored 18 of his season-high 37 points in the third quarter, Bam Adebayo added 23 and the Heat topped the Jazz 126-120 on Saturday night for their 10th victory in 13 games. “When Bam and Jimmy play with that competitive spirit and are connected from a competitive standpoint, our guys feel like we can beat anyone,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Miami’s seven consecutive home wins over the Jazz have come, in order, by one, two, three, eight, three, four and now six points. Caleb Martin had 18 points and Terry Rozier added 14 for Miami (34-26). Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each had 12. “Jimmy got away from us, especially in the second half,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. Keyonte George scored 31 points and Lauri Markkanen had 25

Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Saddiq Bey (41) and forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.) ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 22 points with 13 rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks never trailed after scoring the first 12 points and beat the Utah Jazz 124-97 on Tuesday night. The Hawks have won two straight games after losing All-Star point guard Trae Young for at least four weeks with a torn ligament in his left pinky finger. Dejounte Murray, who has taken over primary ball-handling duties, scored 17 points with 11 assists. The Hawks, who also have center Onyeka Okongwu for an indefinite period with a sprained left toe. Despite the roster limitations, Atlanta has held back-to-back opponents under 100 points for the first time this season. “I think our communication has been better than it has been,” Johnson said, adding success has come with “executing defensively and sticking to the game plan.” De’Andre Hunter scored 20 points Bogdan Bogdanovic had 19 in Atlanta’s balanced attack. Collin Sexton led Utah with 22 points. Walker Kessler added

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) shoots as San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored 26 points and the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-109 on Sunday night to snap a five-game skid. Jordan Clarkson added 22 points and 10 assists for the Jazz. John Collins had 20 points and Collin Sexton added 16 points and 10 assists. The Jazz moved within three games of Golden State for the final Western Conference play-in spot ahead of a three-game road swing. Utah played tough defense and thrived in transition, scoring 34 points off 20 San Antonio turnovers and outscoring the Spurs 28-14 on the fast break. “We showed our hands and we kind got in passing lanes, so that’s what we got to do every game,” Markkanen said. “Just fly around. Not just running, but really trying to make the passes tough for them. We got some guys on this team with long wingspans and we try to use that to our advantage.” Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 27

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots a 3-point basket against Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Klay Thompson came off the bench for the first time since his rookie season to knock down seven 3-pointers and score a season-high 35 points, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 140-137 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Thompson was a reserve for the first time since March 11, 2012. Rookie guard Brandin Podziemski replaced him in the starting lineup and finished with 13 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. “You can do two things: You can pout or you can go out there and respond,” said Thompson, who became the sixth Golden State player to surpass 15,000 points. “I thought I did the latter very well tonight.” Coach Steve Kerr had a discussion with Thompson on Thursday morning where he informed him of the change in the starting lineup. Kerr acknowledged Thompson wasn’t thrilled with the decision and that fueled what turned out to be his best offensive performance in an up-and-down season.

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) defends against Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 26 points, Stephen Curry made five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and had 25 and the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz 129-107 on Monday night without coach Steve Kerr. Kerr was in Serbia for the funeral service for Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, who had a heart attack at a team dinner in Salt Lake City on Jan. 16 and died the next day. Kerr, assistant coaches Chris DeMarco and Ron Adams, general manager Mike Dunleavy, team liaison Zaza Pachulia, and team vice president Rick Celebrini were among the mourners. Assistant coach Kenny Atkinson led the Warriors (26-25) on Monday in their fifth straight victory, moving them above .500. Curry made a 33-footer that capped a 14-5 run and made it 114-96. Thompson scored his most points since having 30 against Chicago on Jan. 12. Andrew Wiggins added 17 points and Jonathan Kuminga had 14 – his 31st straight game in double figures – for

Kevin Durant, de los Suns de Phoenix, dispara entre Laury Markkanen (izquierda) y Walker Kessler, del Jazz de Utah, el jueves 8 de enero de 2024 (AP Foto/Darryl Webb) PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 31 points, Bradley Beal had 30 and the Phoenix Suns — with All-Star Devin Booker sidelined by a sore left hip — beat the Utah Jazz 129-115 on Thursday night. The Suns never trailed, winning their third straight game and 12th of 15. They also swept the four-game, regular-season series from the Jazz. It was an offensive showcase for the Suns, who shot nearly 60% from the field, had 37 assists to just 12 turnovers and scored 30 fast-break points, hitting the Jazz with waves of offense, particularly in the first half. “Our whole team is sharing the basketball,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “We want to become a team-first team. We’ve got elite scorers, we’ve got elite individual talent, but I love how we’re playing together.” Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 22 points, while John Collins had 21 and Collin Sexton 19. Phoenix jumped out to a 40-28 lead in the first quarter, with Durant scoring 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. The Suns settled