Rob Issa, FISM News
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Playoff Jimmy showed up again for the Miami Heat and LeBron James left his Los Angeles Lakers teammates in awe.
The two superstars led their teams to victories Monday night that put them on the brink of advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Butler set a team record with a career-high 56 points to lead the Heat to a 119-114 comeback victory over the Milwaukee Bucks for a 3-1 series lead.
“We knew what we were capable of, even if nobody outside of this building, outside of this roster, and outside of this organization believed in us,” Butler said. “That’s fine. We just want to continue to do what we know is possible.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double in his return from a two-game absence for the Bucks, but the league’s No. 1 seed is now one loss away from elimination.
“We didn’t make enough plays on either end,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “And they did.”
Bam Adebayo scored 15 points and Caleb Martin had 12 for the Heat. Brook Lopez scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Butler stole the show. He made 19 for 28 from the field, 15 of 18 from the foul line, and added nine rebounds. The Heat are trying to become just the fifth No. 8 seed in NBA history to beat a No. 1 seed.
“He obviously played great,” Lopez said of Butler. “He’s been great all series long. He’s been aggressive. He’s been knocking down shots, shooting the 3 extremely well. There hasn’t been a thing he hasn’t been doing. It’s a tough draw, but we have to keep getting better, keep making life tough for him, one game at a time.”
Butler has scored 45 or more points three times in the playoffs in his career.
“I think this is where all the best players, they show up and they show out,” Butler said. “And I’m not saying I’m one of those best players. I just want to be looked at as such.”
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Milwaukee.
LEBRON BEATS THE BUZZER
In Los Angeles, James made the tying layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation and scored four points in overtime to lift the Lakers to a 117-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies for a 3-1 series lead.
The 38-year-old James finished with 22 points and a career playoff-high 20 rebounds with seven assists.
“I just try to be as great as I can be offensively, but more importantly on the defensive end,” James said. “That was the mindset tonight. I was able to make a couple of plays. … My teammates told me I had 20 and 20. It’s the first time I’ve done it in my career, so that’s pretty cool, I guess.”
The No. 7 seed Lakers can move onto the second round with a win in Memphis on Wednesday night. They haven’t won a playoff series since capturing the NBA championship in the Covid-impacted 2020 season.
Austin Reaves scored 23 points, Anthony Davis had 12, and D’Angelo Russell hit three consecutive 3-pointers to lead a rally from a seven-point deficit with five minutes left in regulation.
“He just took over down the stretch,” Davis said of James. “Got us a bucket to get to overtime. … All our guys, it was a good team effort. This team is not going to go away.”
Desmond Bane scored 36 points and hit a tiebreaking layup with 6.7 seconds left and Ja Morant scored 19 points playing with his injured right hand.
The second-seeded Grizzlies need to win three straight to advance.
“At this point in the season, it’s win or go home, so we got to regroup,” Grizzlies backup point guard Tyus Jones said. “Can’t feel sorry for ourselves. Can be frustrated, but at the same time, you got to fix it.”
Only the Philadelphia 76ers have advanced in the NBA playoffs after sweeping the Brooklyn Nets. Boston, Denver, and Phoenix have 3-1 series leads and can advance with wins on Tuesday.