Jimmy Butler He did everything, even defending a play with a shoe in his hand. That multifaceted character of the Miami Heat forward translated this time into a spectacular score that led him to beat his best scoring record in the playoffs to guide his team to victory.
The Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 115-105 in a game that had nothing to do with the first game of the tie. This time, the local victory was much more difficult because they had a rival on the other side of the field, something that did not happen in the opening of the series.
those of Spoelstra their defensive lines worked very well once more with remarkable physical display and in attack they entrusted themselves to a simply divine Butler who went to 45 points following making 15 of his 27 field goals (4 of 7 from the triple) and 11 of his 12 free. Those 45 points beat his postseason scoring record, which was 40.
Butler scored 21 points in the first half and 24 in the second, which gives an idea that the Miami player was constant throughout the game, without giving up at any time. In addition, he captured 5 rebounds, gave 5 assists and his team had a +19 on the scoreboard with him on the court.
As if all this were not enough, Jimmy Butler was the man who was decisive in the crucial moment of the game, because it was he who defeated the Hawks when the team of McMillan it had climbed on the beards of those from Florida.
Atlanta had moved within 3 points in the final stretch of the game (104-101), and it was at that moment that Jimmy Butler responded with 7 consecutive points that made it 111-101, which was the seed of the local victory, a victory that puts to Miami with a 2-0 series lead.
Bulter’s offensive explosion made the Miami Heat save the furniture despite the lack of offensive production from players like Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo o Duncan Robinsonwith Adebayo playing only 24 minutes and with Robinson going from making 8 triples in the first game to not shooting in the second following only being on the court for 7 minutes.
Instead, they joined Butler’s display, Tyler Herro with 15 points and Max Strus with 14 and 4 assists.
Atlanta was weighed down by its 19 turnovers (10 of them Trae Young!). Important team players –Hunter, Huerter y Bogdanovic– They were loaded with fouls in the first half, although the Serb made up for it in a big way in the second.
Bogdanovic was Atlanta’s best player by far. In the first half he committed 3 fouls and might only play 6 minutes, but in the second he played 22 of the 24 minutes and scored 19 points in the final quarter to finish the game with 29 following making 12 of his 18 shots in dynamic play .
Trae Young had 25 points and 7 assists, but had 10 turnovers. The duel with Heat is not being one of the happiest moments of the young All-Star. He complained at the end of the game regarding the permissiveness of the referees with Miami’s physical game, but the truth is that Young has to improve his game in the face to face with Heat. His team needs him.
Bogdanovic and Young were added, Hunter with 16 points and John Collins with 13 plus 10 rebounds, this second game being a toothache for Danilo Gallinariwho only scored 2 points following making a 0 of 6 shot.
