In a stunning turn of events, the Miami Heat managed to pull off a comeback against the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Led by Jimmy Butler, who scored a Miami-playoff-record of 56 points, the Heat managed to overcome a 14-point deficit and put the NBA’s top overall seed on the brink of early elimination. The Heat now lead the series 3-1.
Butler’s 56 points also became his career high. He was 19-for-28 from the field, 15-for-18 from the foul line, and added nine rebounds. Bam Adebayo scored 15, Caleb Martin had 12 and Gabe Vincent scored 10 for the Heat.
Antetokounmpo Returns, but Bucks Fall Short
Despite the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had missed Games 2 and 3 of the series due to a bruised lower back, the Bucks were unable to hold off the Heat. Antetokounmpo had a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Brook Lopez scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee.
The Bucks had led almost the entire game until the final minutes when the Heat mounted a comeback. Butler had 21 of his points in the fourth quarter, and the Heat still trailed 101-89 after a layup by Lopez with 6:09 left. However, a 13-0 run, capped by a Butler dunk off a Bucks turnover, put Miami up for the first time all night with 3:17 left – 102-101.
The lead changed hands four more times, and Butler’s 3-pointer with 1:20 left put Miami ahead for good. He added a step-back jumper on Miami’s next possession, punched the air in celebration, and the Heat knew they would soon be leaving with a 3-1 lead.
Game 5 at Milwaukee
Game 5 of the series will take place at Milwaukee on Wednesday. The Bucks will need to win to stay alive in the playoffs, while the Heat will be looking to close out the series and advance to the next round. With Butler’s record-breaking performance and the Heat’s stunning comeback, the Bucks will have their work cut out for them.
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