Miami Heat are on the brink of dumping out No.1 seed Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA playoffs - and they have Jimmy Butler to thank once again.
Butler's rise in the playoffs is nothing other than incredible, as the Heat star netted 56 points in their 119-114 win over the Bucks to move 3-1 in the series. Butler scored 22 points inside the first quarter to set a new franchise record, and his stunning final total moved him fourth on the all-time list for points scored in a play-off game.
His 56 points surpassed LeBron James' impressive tally of 49, and was just short of Michael Jordan's all-time record of 63. The Heat are on the brink of winning the series, leaving the Bucks a mountain to climb if they are to avoid humiliation at the very first hurdle.
When the Heat advanced via the NBA Play-In tournament, many assumed they'd extended their season by a matter of weeks as the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference awaited them. But they've dominated the series, with Butler taking control while Giannis Antetokounmpo has watched on in amazement.
In fairness to the Bucks, Giannis was out for games two and three, and even with 26 points on Monday night, he wasn't 100 per cent. But the Heat and Butler won't mind, as they're on the brink of a huge upset.
Butler has become known for being a monster in the play-offs, and was even seen shouting "this is my s***" after a series of three point shots. Butler only averaged 22.9 points per game in the regular season, but has seen that total smash 30 points alone in the four play-off games so far.
The Heat star is clearly a man for the big occasions, which could see them become an outside shot for the NBA Championship. Butler has even been given the nickname 'Play-off Jimmy' over his career, but it's something he brushed off when asked on Monday night.
"It’s not a thing, It’s not. I just be hooping," Butler said when asked about his pattern in the postseason. "I love the competitive aspect of [the play-offs].This is where all the best players … show up and they show out.
"I’m not saying I’m one of those best players; I just want to be looked at as such. I want to do everything for my team to win, along with everybody on this roster. I think [team president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra] wanted me here for a reason. I feel like this is part of that reason."
