Jimmy Butler on Monday saluted his Miami Heat teammates after his 56-point masterpiece left the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks facing an early exit from the NBA playoffs.
Butler produced one of the greatest scoring displays in playoff history in a 119-114 win that means Miami need just one more victory in the best-of-seven series to advance.
The 33-year-old six-time NBA All-Star said that his solo gem — the joint fourth-highest individual points tally in playoff history — owed as much to the selflessness of his teammates as his own big-game temperament.
Photo: AP
“This legit was a complete team effort,” Butler said. “I know everybody sees the 56 points, but if my teammates aren’t looking to get me the ball, or setting great screens, where I can get to my right or my left or the free-throw line, this game’s a lot different.”
“A lot of shots went in tonight, but my teammates kept feeding me the ball and telling me to attack. When you’ve got teammates like that, good things happen,” he added.
The win also reflected Miami’s battle-hardened team spirit, he said.
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY
The Heat only forced their way into the playoffs via the play-in tournament and they are the lowest-ranked seed in the Eastern Conference’s post-season bracket.
“The best thing about this group is that we’re confident, no matter what,” Butler said. “We believe we can compete with anybody as long as we’re together. We all really love being around one another. And through the good and bad you can tell one another the truth, and you move on.”
“That’s the formula right now and that’s the reason we’re winning,” he said. “We knew what we were capable of even if nobody outside of this building or this roster believed in us. We just want to continue what we know is possible — play good basketball, smile and have fun, and be together no matter what.”
Photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY
“And we’ll see where we end up,” he added.
Butler joins illustrious company at the top of the all-time single-game scoring leaders in the NBA playoffs.
Only Michael Jordan (63 points), Elgin Baylor (61) and Donovan Mitchell (57) have scored more in a post-season game.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Butler, who led Miami to the NBA Finals in 2020, said that he thrives in the intense conditions of playoff basketball.
“I just love the competitive aspect of it I guess,” he said. “This is where the best players show up, and show out. I’m not saying I’m one of those best players, but I want to be looked at as such. I want to go out and compete and do everything I can to help my team win, along with everyone else on this roster.”
The Heat roared back from 14 points down in the final quarter to stun the Bucks.
Butler was 19 for 28 from the field, 15 of 18 from the foul line and added nine rebounds for eighth-seeded Miami.
Bam Adebayo scored 15, Caleb Martin had 12 and Gabe Vincent scored 10 for the Heat.
Brook Lopez scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a two-game absence with a bruised back and had a triple-double — 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.
LAKERS 117, GRIZZLIES 111
In Los Angeles, LeBron James made the tying layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation time before scoring four of his 22 points in overtime as the Lakers surged to a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series with a victory over Memphis.
The 38-year-old James also grabbed a career playoff-high 20 rebounds, and added seven assists and two blocked shots while committing just one turnover in his 270th playoff game, extending his own NBA record.
He became the first Lakers player to put up 20 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game since Shaquille O’Neal achieved the feat in 2004.
Austin Reaves scored 23 points and Anthony Davis had five of his 12 points in overtime for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who are on the brink of their first playoff series victory outside the Florida bubble since 2012.
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