The Miami Heat took on the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern conference-semi finals. Though the Bucks stayed on top for most parts of the game, a masterclass by Jimmy Butler in the second half that powered Miami to an eleven point victory. 

As the game tipped off, it was the Bucks who looked strong on the ball with Khris Middleton getting right into the act. Milwaukee stormed off with a 40 point first quarter, but soon faced a rigid Miami defense. 

From scoring 40 points in the first quarter, the Bucks’ offense was largely closed down by Bam Adebayo’s brilliance. He recorded his second straight game with 15+ rebounds and 5+ assists, becoming the first Heat player to do it in the Playoffs. 

Jimmy Butler stole the show with a sublime second-half performance

Butler did not look himself in the first half. Even though he racked up 12.0 points, he got five of it from the free-throw line. But with a strong defensive performance in the second quarter, Butler and the team closed out the lead. Going into the break, Miami was just trailing by three points. 

We saw a roaring Jimmy Butler in the second half, who completely took the limelight on the court. He burst out by scoring 28.0 points with his vicious dunks and elegant jump shots, which gradually got the Heat back into the game. 

The 30-year-old swingman inspired the Heat to victory by carrying them on his back in the final two quarters. He ended the game with 40.0 points to his name, to become the first Heat player to achieve the feat since LeBron James in 2014. 

Moreover, with forty points to his name, Butler surpassed his playoff career-high performance, overtaking his 36.0 effort in 2019 with the Sixers. Not many Miami Heat players have had 40.0 point games in the Playoffs. 

With this achievement, he joins the duo of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as the only Heat players to have recorded 40.0 point games in the playoffs. This will certainly inspire the Heat for the upcoming games. Moreover, a 1-0 lead will help in boosting confidence for the long series that is to come.

Fitting into the Heat has seemed to be a seamless transformation for Bulter. He’s even stated that joining Miami is “the best decision” he’s ever made. It certainly feels like Butler belongs here with the Heat. Jimmy Butler? More like Jimmy Buckets!