NBA Playoffs: Butler Delivers Another Epic Performance as Heat Eliminate Top-Seeded Bucks

• Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat to a stunning first-round playoff upset against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5,
• The Heat won two consecutive games by overcoming double-digit fourth-quarter deficits in the series.
• Draymond Green and Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a 123-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Jimmy Butler displayed his superior basketball abilities by leading the Miami Heat to one of the most stunning first-round playoff series in NBA history. In Game 5, the Heat defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in overtime after a second straight fourth-quarter comeback. Butler led the way with an astounding 42 points.

The Miami Heat overcame a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game on a basket by Jimmy Butler with half a second left in regulation after outscoring the Bucks 30-13 in the last six minutes of their previous encounter.

With 2.1 seconds remaining in the game, the Heat were down 118-116 and took a timeout while coach Erik Spoelstra sketched up a play. Jimmy Butler voiced his disapproval of it, according to NBC Sports. Later, Spoelstra had a change of heart and set up the game-tying play, which had Butler waiting underneath the rim and receiving an inbound pass from Gabe Vincent. This forced overtime.

The Heat won both Game 4 and Game 5 after overcoming double-digit fourth-quarter deficits. In the two games, Butler scored 98 points overall. In the fourth quarter of the two games, he produced 14 points. As he did throughout the whole series, Butler delivered in the game that decided it.

Jimmy Butler scored 37.6 points on average, including 56 points in Game 4.

Heart of a Champion

The Miami Heat should be commended for not giving up, even though the Bucks controlled the game for most of the time. Giannis Antetokounmpo made 23 free throw attempts, but 13 of them were missed, costing him the game. The Milwaukee Bucks had a four-point lead with barely 15 seconds remaining but still lost.

It was a very startling turn of events. Since 2012, Miami has been the only number 8 seed to have defeated a number 1 seed in the first round of the NBA playoffs. In the aftermath of Derrick Rose's injury, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the top-seeded Chicago Bulls that year, per Clutch Points.

The Miami Heat will now proceed to a second-round series in the NBA Playoffs against the fifth-seeded New York Knicks, which will begin on Sunday in New York.

Defending Champs Warriors Beat Kings

In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings 123-116 on Wednesday night to grab a 3-2 series lead. Draymond Green had his greatest scoring game in more than five years with 21 points and seven assists, while Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, ABC 7 News reported.

Since his suspension for stomping on Domantas Sabonis' chest in Game 2, Green has not played for Sacramento. This was Draymond Green's return to the NBA Playoffs action.

The Kings were behind by 12 points early in the fourth quarter, but they were able to close the gap thanks to Monk's 11 points in the next five minutes. With 1:04 remaining, Monk had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer, but he missed it, giving the win to the Warriors. After Curry completed a three-point shot with 22.1 seconds remaining to give his team the lead (122-114), Andrew Wiggins scored a turnaround shot to bring the score to five points.

With a fourth consecutive victory at home on Friday night, the Golden State Warriors can finally end the first-round series.

Tags

NBA, NBA Playoffs, Sports, United States, Basketball, Jimmy butler, Stephen curry, Golden state warriors, Sacramento kings