Jimmy Butler puts up 42 as Heat KO top-seeded Bucks

Jimmy Butler scored 42 factors because the visiting Miami Heat superior to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 128-126 additional time victory over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 on Wednesday.

Butler adopted up his franchise-playoff-record, 56-point efficiency in Game 4 by making 17 of 33 pictures from the ground in Game 5. He helped the eighth-seeded Heat overcome a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit by scoring 12 straight factors for his crew throughout one stretch earlier than changing an alley-oop within the last second to power additional time.

In the additional session, Miami’s Max Strus sank two of three free-throw makes an attempt after being fouled by Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier than the latter responded with a dunk to chop Miami’s result in 128-126 with 29.5 seconds left.

Miami’s Gabe Vincent misfired on a 3-point try with 9 seconds to play, however Milwaukee’s Grayson Allen didn’t get off a shot earlier than time expired.

Vincent completed with 22 factors and Bam Adebayo collected 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Heat, who will face the fifth-seeded New York Knicks within the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks eradicated the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday with a 106-95 victory in Game 5 of their collection.

Antetokounmpo recorded 38 factors and 20 rebounds and Khris Middleton pumped in 33 factors for the Bucks. Brook Lopez contributed 18 factors and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday logged 16 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

Kevin Love sank a 3-pointer to provide Miami an 81-80 lead earlier than Milwaukee responded with a 22-5 run to finish the third quarter. Lopez and Middleton every made two 3-pointers throughout that sequence, and Allen transformed a four-point play.

Pat Connaughton drained a 3-pointer to stake Milwaukee to a 52-50 lead with 6:29 left within the second quarter. That shot ignited a 17-6 run for the Bucks, who then noticed their benefit trimmed to 69-63 after Vincent drained a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds to play within the interval.

Middleton made 6 of seven pictures from the ground — together with his lone try from 3-point vary — and all 4 of his foul pictures within the first quarter to attain 17 factors. Middleton’s heroics apart, Miami seized a 36-33 lead after Butler contributed 11 factors and Vincent added 9.

–Field Level Media/Reuters