Comment on Heat’s Jimmy Butler makes preseason statement (with his look, as well) in victory over Hawks

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler came to play. In the preseason, no less. Few signs could be more encouraging for the Miami Heat at this time of year. In 20:55, on a night he was pulled for good early in the third period, Butler was active and aggressive with 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting and three steals in Wednesday night’s 120-111 exhibition victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center. “Jimmy just wanted to make sure he had a couple of moments tonight,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. That he did. “Super efficient,” Spoelstra said of Butler’s offense, “activity level defensively, too.