The Jimmy Takeover

04/25/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Jimmy Butler (56 Points) & LeBron James (22-20-7) Fuel Heat & Lakers to 4th-Quarter Comebacks, 3-1 Series Leads

Are you ready for some upsets? Ignore the seeds in the NBA Playoff bracket. The Miami Heat (8-seed) and Los Angeles Lakers (7-seed) are taking over in Round 1. Both teams needed to survive the play-in rounds, and they now hold 3-1 leads over the Bucks (1-seed) and Grizzlies (2-seed), respectively. Superstar performances from Jimmy Butler and LeBron James fueled their teams in Monday’s doubleheader with a pair of fourth-quarter comebacks. Butler hit another gear and put up 56 points — 22 in the first quarter on 9-for-10 shooting — and delivered a 12-point rally for the Heat down the stretch. Out west, James (22-20-7) dropped in a game-tying layup to force overtime after the Lakers climbed out of a seven-point deficit. James took over in the OT in vintage LeBron fashion, and both the Bucks and Grizzlies are on the brink of elimination.

Editor’s Note: Teams that go up 3-1 win the series 95 percent of the time.

Star History: LeBron James became the oldest player ever (38 years, 115 days) and the fifth player in Lakers franchise history with a 20-20-5 performance in the playoffs. Jimmy Butler’s 56 points were also a franchise playoff record for the Heat. Butler has 146 points in 140 minutes through four playoff games (1.04 points per minute / 36.5 ppg).

1st-Round Series Highlights

Gm 4: Heat def. Bucks (119-114) | MIA Leads Series (3-1)

Gm 4: Lakers def. Grizzlies (117-111) | LAL Leads Series (3-1)

Star Spotlight

J. Butler (MIA): 56 points, 9 rebounds

L. James (LAL): 22 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists

Other Top Performers

B. Lopez (MIL): 36 points, 11 rebounds

D. Bane (MEM): 36 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists

G. Antetokounmpo (MIL): 26 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists

A. Reaves (LAL): 23 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists

Tonight’s Schedule