The Miami Heat took a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, winning 119-114 behind an incredible performance from Jimmy Butler. Butler scored a career-high 56 points, including a clutch three-pointer with just seconds left on the clock to seal the victory.
The Heat were down by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Butler kept them in the game with his scoring and playmaking. He scored 18 points in the first quarter, and then added another 24 in the second half to help the Heat take the lead. He also had nine assists and eight rebounds, making him the first player in NBA history to record at least 50 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in a playoff game.
The Bucks were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 33 points and 11 rebounds. Khris Middleton added 25 points and Eric Bledsoe had 17. But it wasn’t enough to stop Butler and the Heat, who outscored the Bucks by 15 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
The Heat now have a 3-1 lead in the series, and will look to close it out in Game 5 on Friday night. If they can do that, they will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014. Butler’s performance was a huge part of their success, and if he can continue to play at this level, they will be a tough team to beat.
