Jimmy Butler produced a scintillating 56-point efficiency because the Miami Warmth scored a shocking come-from-behind victory to go away the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on the point of elimination from the NBA playoffs.
In an electrifying battle at Miami’s Kaseya Heart, Butler all however single-handedly led Miami to a 119-114 win that leaves the Bucks 3-1 down within the best-of-seven Japanese Convention first-round collection.
Butler’s factors haul was the joint fourth-highest particular person scoring efficiency in an NBA playoff sport ever.
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Solely Michael Jordan (63 factors), Elgin Baylor (61) and Donovan Mitchell (57) have scored extra in a postseason sport.
Jay King posted on Twitter: “Jimmy Butler is a foul man. The Warmth are powerful as hell. That is insane”.
NBA broadcaster Marc D’Amico posted: “This is among the best playoff performances of my lifetime. All hail Jimmy Butler”.
Dan Le Batard was blown away.
“He fouled out Middleton. He guarded Giannis. He scored 56 nearly completely on twos. He took as many free throws as any 4 Bucks mixed. And received not more than 15 factors from any teammate. And performed extra minutes than anybody. I can’t imagine what I simply noticed,” he stated.
The efficiency had NBA commentators reaching for the file books.
Milwaukee, who welcomed Giannis Antetokounmpo again into their lineup after a two-game harm absence, had seemed to be cruising in direction of victory after main from the opening seconds and conserving Miami at arm’s size all through.
Milwaukee led by 14 factors early within the fourth quarter and gave the impression to be poised to sq. the collection at two video games apiece after a ruthless capturing efficiency from Brook Lopez with Antetokounmpo offering scoring assist.
However Butler led an astonishing late 13-0 run to remodel the competition and with the group roaring him on, scored a jaw-dropping 21 factors within the fourth quarter to go away the Bucks shellshocked in defeat.
“For my group to get this (win), on this means, on this ambiance, on this metropolis, is big,” an exhausted Butler stated.
Butler is now relishing the prospect of presumably eliminating the Bucks from the postseason in Milwaukee in sport 5 on Wednesday.
“To play basketball in Milwaukee, in entrance of their crowd, to be collectively, on the street — that’s the place championships are gained. And we’ve received a shot,” Butler stated.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra saluted Butler’s basketball intelligence. “He’s some of the clever basketball gamers on this affiliation,” stated Spoelstra.
“You’ll be able to’t do what he does on each ends of the court docket simply by operating round and attempting to determine issues out.
“He understands what we’re attempting to do and he understands what they’re attempting to do — and so they’re an excellent group.” Butler’s tally got here from 19-of-28 capturing with three three-pointers. Butler stated his solo masterpiece was the results of a “full group effort.”
“I do know everyone sees the 56 factors, but when my team-mates aren’t trying to get me the ball, or setting nice screens, the place I can get to my proper or my left or the free throw line, this sport’s quite a bit totally different,” Butler stated.
“A whole lot of pictures went in tonight. However my team-mates stored feeding me the ball and telling me to assault. Whenever you’ve received team-mates like that, good issues occur.”
Crucially, Butler’s haul included 22 factors within the first quarter, a burst of scoring that helped Miami keep simply in contact.
No different Miami participant broke 20 factors, with Bam Adebayo the following highest Miami scorer with 15 factors. Solely two different Miami gamers cracked double figures.
Milwaukee have been left shocked at how victory had eluded them.
Lopez completed with 36 factors and 11 rebounds whereas Antetokounmpo made a triple double on his return with 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.
“We had our alternatives within the fourth quarter however we didn’t make sufficient performs at both finish, and so they did,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer stated.
Initially revealed as ‘Can’t imagine this’: Jimmy Butler blows minds with Play-offs explosion
