Jimmy Butler drained two walk-off free throws with no seconds left as the Miami Heat take a massive 2-0 series lead over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Heat’s Jimmy Butler won Game 2 with his two walk-off free throws to take down the Bucks. (Photo by Mark J. Terrill/AP)
In what could be one of the strangest endings to an all-important playoff the game, the Heat get the last laugh as they escaped the Bucks, 116-114. Despite only having a measly total of 13 markers in the win, Butler made the game-winning free throws after Giannis fouled him with no seconds left on the clock.
With a closely-fought game after three quarters, the Heat pulled away in the final period and seemingly had a win under wraps with only seconds remaining on the game clock. But the Bucks would not go away, and capitalized on a Butler turnover to trim the deficit to two points.
Butler would be fouled on the following possession, splitting his charities to give Miami a 114-111 lead. Then Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton was fouled by Goran Dragic on a three-point attempt, the first of two controversial calls to end the game.
Middleton drew three free throws to tie the game pic.twitter.com/BudxqqXtOp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 3, 2020
With only four seconds left on the clock, the Heat turned to Butler for a potential game-winner. Butler received the inbound pass in the corner, attempted a turn-around jumper, then was fouled by Giannis after the shot. All Butler had to do was to drill a free throw to win the game, and that’s what he did.
Jimmy Butler gets the foul at the buzzer pic.twitter.com/DYQUkCBcoK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 3, 2020
The Heat saw seven of their players put up double-digit performances on the scoring column. Dragic topscored with his 23 markers, while rookie shooting guard Tyler Herro tallied 17 points and 4 assists. Bam Adebayo, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, produced 15 points and 9 boards.
Giannis bounced back from an inefficient Game 1 outing and amassed a double-double of 29 points and 14 rebounds. Khris Middleton chipped in 23 points and 8 dimes, as the league-leading Bucks now face a glaring 0-2 hole in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
SCORES
Heat (116) – Dragic 23, Herro 17, Crowder 16, Adebayo 15, Butler 13, Robinson 13, Olynyk 11, Iguodala 4, Nunn 2, Jones Jr. 2
Bucks (114) – G. Antetokounmpo 29, Middleton 23, B. Lopez 16, Bledsoe 16, Hill 14, Korver 6, Williams 4, Matthews 4, Connaughton 2, DiVincenzo 0
