Jimmy Butler’s 56-point performance led the Miami Heat to a 119-114 comeback victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, taking a 3-1 series lead. After trailing 101-89 with six minutes remaining, the Heat outscored the Bucks 30-13 in the rest of the game.
Butler scored or assisted on 22 of the final 30 points, including 13 points in clutch time, when the score is within five points. Butler matched the fourth-best scoring performance in an NBA playoff game, tied with Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Charles Barkley.
This was Butler’s first 50-point playoff game, setting a career high in scoring in the regular season or playoffs. He also put up the first 50-point playoff game since Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Despite Butler’s outstanding performance, he does not accept the moniker “Playoff Jimmy.” He said, “It’s not a thing… I just be hooping.” Butler continues to elevate his game in the postseason, averaging 36.5 points, leading the NBA in scoring.
In Game 4, Butler also turned up the intensity defensively, with the Bucks going 1-of-8 (13%) when Butler contested their shots. Although the Bucks became just the fifth No. 1 seed to trail 3-1 against a No. 8 seed since the first round expanded to a best-of-seven format in 2003, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is not relaxing and understands the team still has to find a way to get the job done.
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