As the Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors in their last NBA Cup group play game, 121-111, it was in part to an impeccable performance from their star center. Heat captain Bam Adebayo would record his eighth career triple-double Friday night as the last rebound he needed came from the help of teammate Jimmy Butler.

While it was Butler, Herro and Jaquez who powered those third quarter rallies, Pelle Larsson’s activity, Kevin Love’s passing (two splendid assists) and Adebayo’s defense (two steals), passing (three assists) and aggressiveness (five rebounds) in the third also made a difference. And Terry Rozier provided a lift with four second-half threes.

After a rare road win in New Orleans, the Raptors got back in the losing column away from home, largely thanks to a poor third quarter in Miami. Leading 61-58 at halftime in a back-and-forth game, Toronto got smothered by an active Miami defence that often went into a zone against the confused visitors and fell 121-111 in a game where two players notched triple-doubles.

Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 26 points as the host Miami Heat defeated the Toronto Raptors 121-111 in an NBA Cup game on Friday night.