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Going into game 4 of the series between The Miami Heat and Milawukee Bucks with the Heat leading 2-1, the big storyline was that Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo would play, after missing games 2 and 3 with a back injury. But the story after the game ended was the incredible play of Miami Heat shooting guard Jimmy Butler. The future Hall-of-Fame guard played arguably the best game of his NBA career,
Jimmy Butler went off, scoring 56 points on 19-28 shooting from the field and 13-15 from the foul line.
JIMMY BUTLER IS IN #PLAYOFFMODE
56 POINTS IN THE GAME 4 W.
HEAT WIN 119-114 TO TAKE A 3-1 SERIES LEAD. pic.twitter.com/YSel0liBvm
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023
He started out on fire. Jimmy Butler scored 22 points in the first quarter on 9-10 shooting to keep the Miami Heat in the game against the heavily-favored Milwaukee Bucks. It was an historic first quarter.
Jimmy Butler's 22 points are tied for the most for any player in any first quarter in the playoffs in the NBA's play-by-play era (since 1996-97).
Devin Booker and Michael Porter Jr. also had 22—both on the same day in the first round in 2021.
— Zach Kram (@zachkram) April 25, 2023
The Heat offense struggled the next two quarters, though, and by the middle of the fourth quarter the Bucks were well in control of the game as they looked to take back control of the series. Afer Giannis hooked up with Brook Lopez for an alley-oop, Milwaukee led by 12, 101-89 with six minutes remaining. Their win % according to ESPN was at a whopping 97.5%. But, Jimmy Butler had something to say about that. The thirteenth-year player out of Marquette scored 19 points in the final 5:16 of the game, as the heat shocked the Bucks and put the team with the best record in the league in the regular season down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
JIMMY BUCKETS 🗣️
42 POINTS.HEAT CUTTING INTO THE LEAD WITH 4 MINUTES LEFT IN GAME 4! pic.twitter.com/GYjqeTJM5L
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023
JIMMY BUTLER IS IN #PLAYOFFMODE ON TNT.
HEAT LEAD. pic.twitter.com/JE52KcwtWp— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler becoming the GOAT as soon as the playoffs begin is crazy every time it happens pic.twitter.com/Cib9YJBBFq
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 25, 2023
Twitter was going crazy for Jimmy Butler’s big performance.
It’s not that Jimmy Butler has that dog in him, it’s that dogs have that Jimmy Butler in them
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) April 25, 2023
There isn’t a better example of a 16 game player vs an 82 game player than Jimmy Butler.
One of the very best 16 game players around
— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler showing up to dominate the playoffs every year pic.twitter.com/RNRLTHR6X7
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler tonight: pic.twitter.com/DyKVdaK36x
— nba paint (@nba_paint) April 25, 2023
Last but not least, look at this reaction by teammate Nikola Jovic when he saw Jimmy Butler’s stat line.
Nikola Jovic catches a glimpse of Jimmy Butler's statline late in the Game 4 win 😅
Butler's 56-point #PLAYOFFMODE performance leads the Heat to a 3-1 series lead in Round 1.
📅 Game 5: Wednesday, 9:30pm/et on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/ZLoMfePaFy
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023
The Heat will look to finish the Bucks off in Milwaukee on Wednesday.