It was beautiful and related.
For the second consecutive recreation the No. 8 playoff seed within the Eastern Conference stormed again from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit in opposition to the No. 1 seed.
So the Milwaukee Bucks, the crew with the perfect regular-season document within the NBA, are performed.
And the Miami Heat, once more fueled by Jimmy Butler, transfer on, this time after a 128-126 time beyond regulation victory Wednesday evening at Fiserv Forum.
It is simply the sixth time a No. 8 has defeated a No. 1 in a seven-game sequence.
Up subsequent for the Heat?
Another probability to make historical past, this time in opposition to a well-known playoff opponent: Heat vs. New York Knicks, within the Eastern Conference semifinals, opening Sunday at 1 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s always good for the league when there’s a Heat-Knicks playoff series,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra stated.
With Butler following up his 56 in Monday’s Game 4 house victory with 42 this time, the Heat finally wanted solely 5 video games to take down the Bucks, even whereas dropping guards Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo within the sequence.
Butler was supported by 22 factors from level guard Gabe Vincent, with heart Bam Adebayo including 20 factors and 10 rebounds and energy ahead Kevin Love including 15 factors and 12 rebounds.
The Bucks obtained 38 factors and 20 rebounds from ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose absence for two 1/2 video games within the sequence with a lower-back contusion, definitely modified the face of the sequence. Milwaukee additionally obtained 33 factors from Khris Middleton and 18 factors and 10 rebounds from heart Brook Lopez.
Five Degrees of Heat from Wednesday’s recreation:
1. The time beyond regulation: The Heat took an preliminary two-point lead within the time beyond regulation on an Adebayo putback dunk.
But adversity then set in, with Kyle Lowry fouling out with 3:15 to play after Love had fouled out late in regulation.
Butler, although, persevered, together with his 21-foot jumper placing the Heat up three with 2:44 to play after which an Adebayo putback placing the Heat up 124-119.
But that’s when Adebayo additionally fouled out with 2:03 to play.
The Heat would go up seven from there, with the Bucks trimming their deficit to 126-124 with 59 seconds to play on an Antetokounmpo jumper.
From there, after uneven possessions each methods, the Bucks didn’t get a shot off on the last buzzer, ending their season.
“It feels like this was the finish of our second-round series,” Spoelstra stated, having to endure the play-in spherical after which these 5 emotional video games.
2. All the way in which again: From 16 down on the finish of the third quarter, the Heat rallied all the way in which again to a 118-118 tie on the finish of the regulation.
The tying factors on the finish of regulation got here off an inbounds go from Vincent to Butler within the paint, with Butler scoring on a scooping layup, just like their connection earlier this season to defeat the Houston Rockets.
“:He simply stated, ‘No, let me be that guy,’ ” Spoelstra stated when he mentioned different play choices within the previous huddle.
The Heat had been down 9 with 4:47 to play in regulation as they discovered their manner again, profiting from a missed free throw by Bucks guard Jrue Holiday with 2.1 seconds to play.
3. Butler’s evening: Butler stood with 16 factors on the intermission.
Holiday once more took the defensive task in opposition to Butler, as he did Monday evening.
Butler once more took his recreation to the 3-point line, changing three.
Butler was as much as 26 factors via three quarters.
Butler’s fifth level moved him previous Jeff Hornacek for fifty fifth on the NBA all-time playoff checklist, together with his eleventh transferring him previous Pau Gasol for 54th.
“I’ve said a lot about how I feel about Jimmy,” Spoelstra stated, “about he is us and we are him. I just respect him so much about him being such an elite, world-class competitor.”
4. Adebayo off, Love on: After addressing the balky hamstring that has had him on the Heat damage report, Adebayo closed the primary half with three factors on 1-of-7 taking pictures and two rebounds.
Adebayo at instances seemed to be grabbing at his left hamstring.
Adebayo’s second level moved him previous Shaquille O’Neal for eight place on the Heat all-time playoff checklist.
5. Haslem minus 1: Despite not being within the recreation, Heat captain Udonis Haslem was referred to as for a technical foul with six minutes left within the second interval when he obtained into it in entrance of the Heat bench with Bucks ahead Bobby Portis throughout a timeout.
Bucks guard Grayson Allen transformed the free throw for a 55-50 Milwaukee lead.
Haslem, in enjoying mop-up responsibility in Game 3, made his first playoff look since 2016 in that recreation.
The 20-year Heat veteran is retiring after this season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com