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Stefan Tonev
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Heat bench scores 58 for tight win over Hawks
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Among the crowd: Kate Upton and Justin Verlander, seated with Heat managing general partner Micky Arison, and Floyd Mayweather

Jimmy Butler scored 26 points, Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin each had 21 off the bench, and the Miami Heat (35-31) held off the Atlanta Hawks 130-128 to move 2 1/2 games clear of them in the race for No. 7 in the Easton Monday night.

Miami rallied to win from 15 or more points down for the fourth time this season and improved to 14-8 in games decided by three points or less.

“Our guys are competitors. They love these kinds of games,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“It gets my stomach twisting and turning and everything. But these guys just love it. It was important to get this two-game set. We knew the context of it.”

Butler added nine rebounds and nine assists for Miami. as the Heat took the season series 3-1, so they hold the tiebreaker as well.

Bam Adebayo finished with 16 points, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson each had 14, and the Heat set a season high with 58 bench points.

Miami also made 16 3-poInters, their most in a game since Dec. 15. Monday win also marked the sixth time this season the Hawks had seven players in double figures.

Trae Young scored 25 for the Hawks, which got 23 from Dejounte Murray and 17 apiece from Saddiq Bey and John Collins.

Kyle Lowry, who missed his 13th consecutive game with left knee soreness, is hopeful of a return later this week. The Hawks were also without Kevin Love (bruised right rib).

“I want us to be the best team we can be by the end of the year,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And that’s really what it comes down to, how can we keep improving?

“Obviously, we want to win — record, standings, playoffs — but I think we’ll be better off if we continue to improve. And in order to do that, sometimes you need to have an off day.”

The Hawks visit the Washington Wizards and the Heat host Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

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