Bucks Zone

Jimmy Butler puts forth a performance for the ages to put the Milwaukee Bucks to the brink of elimination

Jimmy Butler put on an incredible performance that has the Milwaukee Bucks teetering on the edge of elimination.
Jonas Panerio|
© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Milwaukee BucksMiami Heat

The Miami Heat had their backs against the wall against a Milwaukee Bucks squad that’s already at full strength with the return of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup. But behind a heroic performance from veteran guard Jimmy Butler, the Heat were able to eke out a 119-114 victory and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Living up to his nickname, “Jimmy Buckets,” Butler punched through the vaunted Bucks’ defense and lit them up for 56 points. As a matter of fact, the Marquette product outscored the Bucks by himself, 21-16, in the last 8 minutes of the ballgame, solidifying his reputation as one of the most clutch players in the league today and, in the process, shattering the Heat record for most points scored in a Playoff game.

Got hot early

Butler actually got going early, scoring 22 of the Heat’s 28 points in the first quarter, sending a message to the Bucks that he was willing to take on the lion’s share of the load if he had to. At one point, he scored 20 straight points in less than six minutes to keep the Heat within striking distance.

The fourth, though, was where Butler made hay. With the Heat down 14, 92-78, Butler connected with Caleb Martin down the stretch to overhaul the deficit. But Butler was the man who put the Heat in front for good, hitting a three-pointer and a long two to put his team up 112-109 and never look back, with less than a minute remaining.

Huge win

The victory placed the Milwaukee Bucks on the wrong end of history. Only four top-seeds have been ousted by eighth-seeds, and the Bucks are a loss away from joining that ignominious list. As for the Heat, it was a huge victory for a team that many experts wrote off in this series against the best team in the league in the regular season.

“For my team, to get this dub, in this way, in this atmosphere, for this city, it’s huge,” Butler said.

Published
Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO