Jimmy Butler scored a Miami Heat playoff single game record 56 points as the Heat overcame the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 119-114 and take a 3-1 lead in their first round playoff series. Butler, who also set his personal single game career high (regular season and playoffs), shot 19-28 from the field (including 3-8 from three point range) and 15-18 from the free throw line while grabbing nine rebounds and committing just one turnover. He poured in 22 first quarter points to keep the Heat within striking distance, and then he scored 21 fourth quarter points to lead a spirited Heat comeback. Only three other Heat players scored in double figures: Bam Adebayo (15 points), Caleb Martin (12 points), and Gabe Vincent (10 points).
The Miami Heat have had some great players and some great individual performances. LeBron James' masterful games during the Heat's back to back championship runs in 2012 and 2013, and Dwayne Wade's sensational games in the 2006 NBA Finals are the most significant individual games in franchise history. However, in terms of single game excellence an argument could be made that Butler just authored the greatest playoff game in franchise history, scoring nearly half of his team's points to lead an eighth seeded team missing its third leading scorer (the injured Tyler Herro, who averaged 20.1 ppg during the regular season) to a win against the top seeded team that is now at full strength.
Brook Lopez scored a team-high and playoff career-high 36 points, helping the Bucks to outscore the Heat 54-40 in the paint. Antetokounmpo had a triple double (26 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds) as he returned to action after missing games two and three (and most of game one) due to a bruised back, but he committed six turnovers and he seemed to wear down in the fourth quarter, when he managed just three points on 1-4 field goal shooting while grabbing no rebounds.
The undersized Heat outrebounded the Bucks 47-46. Without the benefit of extra possessions, it became imperative for the Bucks to shoot a high percentage--but they shot just .433 from the field.
The Bucks led by as many as 15 points and seemed to be on the verge of tying this series at 2-2 before playing game five at home, but Butler saved the day for the Heat in the fourth quarter. The Bucks enjoyed a 98-85 lead after Lopez' dunk on an Antetokounmpo feed with 8:56 remaining in regulation. Butler checked back into the game at the 8:11 mark, and scored 21 of the Heat's final 27 points.
No Play-In Tournament team has ever won a playoff series, but the Heat now have three opportunities to win one game, eliminate the number one overall seeded Bucks, and advance to the second round.