Jimmy Butler's game-tying tip-in sends Miami Heat to second round

ParallelDesk 12:17:31 PM, 27 April 2023

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In one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history, the Miami Heat have become the fifth eighth seed to advance to the second round after sealing a 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks. This is largely thanks to Jimmy Butler's incredible performance. He dropped a career-high 56 points in Game 4 and then followed it up with 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in Game 5, which saw the Heat record another comeback win to seal the series. But the most impressive moment came when the Heat were down 16 in the fourth quarter of Game 5. Butler turned up the heat when it counted and led Miami to outscoring the Bucks 32-16 in the final frame. Butler scored 21 points in the fourth quarter of the previous game and, on Wednesday, he had 12 points in the last five minutes of Game 5, including the game-tying tip-in that sent it to overtime. The Heat had just 2.1 seconds left to tie the game and Gabe Vincent inbounded the ball to Butler, who was being guarded by Jrue Holiday and Pat Connaughton. Despite the odds, Butler got his hand on the ball and tipped it in, stunning the Milwaukee crowd. He then added two points in overtime to seal the deal. Butler's performance in the series has been nothing short of legendary. He has been the difference-maker for the Heat, who weren't given a chance against the Bucks after entering the playoffs as the eighth seed, going 1-1 in the play-in tournament. The Bucks, who entered the postseason as the favorites to win it all, were soundly defeated by Butler's back-to-back all-time performances. The Heat will now move on to face either the Brooklyn Nets or the Boston Celtics in the second round, while the Bucks will be left to rue what might have been. Butler, however, will undoubtedly go down in Miami Heat history as one of their all-time greats, particularly for his clutch performances in this year's playoffs.