MIAMI — — For the first time this season, the Miami Heat have a winning record.
They hope that’s just the beginning.
Jimmy Butler had 27 points and 11 assists, Kelly Olynyk scored 20 points and the Heat beat the Orlando Magic 111-103 on Thursday night — getting to 19-18 on the season after winning for the eighth time in their last nine games.
“It’s been an objective of ours for several weeks,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “A small hurdle. It was something that we wanted to do.”
Miami opened the season with a loss to Orlando, and had gone 0-6 in opportunities this season to move over .500 — until Thursday. Tyler Herro scored 17 points, Kendrick Nunn had 13 and Goran Dragic added 11 for the Heat.
Butler had 10 points in the fourth quarter, and led a defensive charge that limited Orlando to 8-for-28 shooting in the final 12 minutes.
“Jimmy just controlled the game down the…
