Jimmy Butler’s Thrilling Game 4 Performance

In recent NBA history, the Miami Heat has been one of the most entertaining basketball franchises to watch. In the late 1990s, Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway formed one of the fiercest duos that led the Heat to many postseasons. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh formed a historical NBA team, winning two NBA championships in a row. In the 2020 NBA Bubble, Jimmy Butler spearheaded the Heat’s playoff run to the finals, with his high-scoring performances and unforeseen play-making abilities grabbing the attention of many NBA fans.

The world witnessed Jimmy Butler in one of the best playoff basketball performances of all time against the one-seed Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, April 24. Scoring a franchise playoff record of 56 points, Butler led the eight-seed Miami to a 119-114 comeback victory over the top team in the Eastern Conference, placing the Heat in a comfortable 3-1 lead.

Before Jimmy “Buckets” checked into the game in the fourth, the Bucks were confidently up 98-87. As the Miami Heat were slowly catching up with contributions from Caleb Martin and Butler, the change of momentum and sudden pressure on the Bucks was almost palpable at Kaseya Center. Fans erupted and the atmosphere was electric as the Heat hit back-to-back-to-back shots with no response from the rivals. There was clearly no coming back for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Butler led the 29-11 run with 18 points and sealed the game with a dazzling step-back shot over Jrue Holiday, promptly announcing “THIS IS MY CITY” multiple times to the crowd.

Butler’s 56-point performance on 67 percent shooting was the fourth-highest scoring performance in NBA playoff history, solidifying him as one of the most clutch performers of the modern NBA. This year, fans have the chance to watch Butler once again put up historic stats and possibly carry the Heat to their second NBA Finals in three years.