When Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup for game four after missing the majority of the NBA Playoffs to date with a back injury, the general feeling and consensus by many, including yours truly, was the fact that the Bucks would beat the Miami Heat with relative ease. They were 7.5 point favourites and had the two-time NBA MVP in their lineup.
Well, apparently the Heat star player, forward Jimmy Butler of Houston, Texas, did not get the memo. On Monday it was Butler who delivered with a magnificent performance as he set a Heat franchise record for most points in a playoff game with 56. In 41 minutes of action, he made 19 of 28 field goals, 15 of 18 free throws, and three three-point shots in eight attempts. Butler also had nine rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and was a +4 as Miami took a commanding three games to one lead as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series.
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The old Heat record belonged to LeBron James of Akron, Ohio. He had 49 points in a 102-96 Heat win over the Brooklyn Nets on May 12, 2014 in game four of the 2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Ironically, James had an impressive double double (22 points and 20 rebounds) in a 117-111 Lakers overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday as the Lakers took a three games to one lead in the Western Conference semifinals. At 38 years old and 115 days, James became the oldest player in NBA history to have 20 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
Getting back to Buter, the 56 points he scored on Monday, were the fourth most in one game in NBA Playoff history. The only three players with more points were Michael Jordan (63 points), Elgin Baylor (61 points), and Donovan Mitchell (57 points).
