Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat to one of the most remarkable first-round playoff upsets in NBA history, scoring 42 points as the Heat defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in overtime. This was the sixth time an eighth seed team defeated a top-seeded team, with Miami becoming the first since 2012. The Heat trailed 118-116 with 2.1 seconds left when coach Erik Spoelstra drew up a play, but Butler didn’t like it, spoke up about it, and requested a change, leading to a tying play that forced overtime.
Miami Heat: The Resilient Group
Miami Heat had to win a play-in game with Chicago to reach the first round. Despite being a resilient group, they were trailing by 16 points in the fourth quarter, but managed to tie the game, forcing overtime. Bam Adebayo secured the win with a putback dunk after Butler missed a layup with just under five minutes left in overtime.
Butler: The Playmaker And The Play Caller
Butler was the playmaker, averaging 37.6 points, including a 56-point effort in Game 4, leading Miami to the second round of the playoffs. He was also the play-caller, changing coach Spoelstra’s mind when he didn’t like the play he had designed for the tying play. The Heat will now face the fifth-seeded New York Knicks in a second-round series, with Game 1 taking place on Sunday in New York.
Bucks: No Regrets
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points and had 20 rebounds for the Bucks, but they were unable to stop the Heat’s rally. Khris Middleton added 33 points, while Jrue Holiday had 19 points and 12 assists. Despite the loss, Antetokounmpo rejected the notion that a first-round playoff exit made this season a failure, saying that there are no failures in sports. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he didn’t regret not using a timeout in the closing seconds of overtime but did regret not calling a timeout with half a second left in regulation after Butler’s basket.
The Miami Heat’s stunning upset over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks has made NBA history. Butler’s heroics on the court and as the play-caller played a crucial role in Miami’s victory. The Heat’s resilience and determination have brought them to the second round, where they will face the New York Knicks. The Bucks’ defeat is not a failure, according to Antetokounmpo, and they will be looking to regroup and bounce back stronger next season.
