CHICAGO — The novelty act has become a position of strength for Jimmy Butler. Now there is no hesitation when it comes to lofting 3-pointers, nor does the Miami Heat forward bristle when asked about why he doesn’t shoot more.

Entering Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center, the first of consecutive games against the Bulls at the start of a five-game trip, Butler is 11 of 23 on 3-pointers this season through 10 appearances. As a matter of perspective, he closed 36 of 103 from behind the arc in 64 appearances last season. His 2.3 attempts per game are his high since joining the Heat in the 2019 offseason.

“We yell at him, coaches yell at him,” center Bam Adebayo said of Butler’s previous reluctance to launch. “Obviously, he does what he wants. But for him to finally listen to and actually shoot the ball, it just makes our team more dynamic.”

Butler, in fact, has embraced the notion of striving to shoot 50% on 3-pointers, a final miss in Thursday night’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Kaseya Center putting him just below that mark.

“That means I’ve got some ground to make up,” Butler said with a smile amid the Heat’s seven-game winning streak. “But these guys actually believe I’m a 50% 3-point shooter. So, damn, I love my teammates for that. Take ’em whenever you’re open, which I will do. And if that’s what translates to wins, then we got to take ’em and I got to make ’em.”

In going 2 of 5 from beyond the arc against the Nets, Butler has made at least one 3-pointer in six consecutive games, the longest streak of his career since he did it in a career-best eight consecutive games in 2016 while with the Bulls.

Teammate Duncan Robinson, who went 6 of 10 on 3-pointers against the Nets, joked that the 3-point focus on Butler has allowed him to shoot under the radar.

“It does take some pressure off,” Robinson said with a smile, “knowing that despite what I shoot from three, it’ll be second to him.”

Inside story

As Butler takes his game to the perimeter, Adebayo has continued to thrive in the paint, often slow-playing defenses with a decidedly deliberate approach.

Adebayo said the patience goes back to his time playing alongside Heat icon Dwyane Wade.

“Man, I actually got it from D-Wade, which is funny,” said Adebayo, who went for 20 points Thursday against the Nets. “When I was on the team with D-Wade, I would always rush. And D-Wade pulled me to the side one day and was like, ‘Let the defense make the mistake. Slow down, be patient.’

“And literally it was just like a wake-up call for me.”

Adebayo’s six consecutive games with 20 or more points ties the longest such run of his career, set during the 2022-23 season, leading the Heat with his nine 20-point games this season.

Adebayo also has scored at least 18 points in all 11 games played, joining Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant and Lauri Markkanen as the only players in the league this season to score at least 18 points in every game played.

“Picking my spots,” Adebayo said. “If I can be aggressive, obviously Coach is trusting me to put the ball in the basket. So when you have that ultimate confidence from your coach, sky’s the limit for you.”

Injury report

Tyler Herro (ankle), R.J. Hampton (knee) and Jamal Cain (G League) are out for Saturday, with none with the team. Cain remains in the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he has recorded double-doubles in his first two appearances.

Everyone else is listed as available for the Heat, with Caleb Martin no longer listed on the injury report.