What a beautiful time to be a Miami Heat fan.
During the regular season, he’s simply known as Jimmy Butler, but during postseason time, he’s known as “Playoff Jimmy.” Butler, himself, is aware of the nickname, but when asked about it during Monday’s postgame press conference, he just smiled and shook his head.
“It’s not a thing,” said Butler with a laugh after he led his Miami Heat to a 119-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference 1st Round series, which now has the Heat with a commanding 3-1 lead. “It’s not. I just be hooping.”
However, his moniker continues to pick up steam with flashy playoff performances and it’ll only ratchet up with a 56-point beauty. Leading Miami to a 14-point fourth-quarter rally, Butler scored the fourth most points in an NBA postseason game in the process, as well as put the No. 1 seed Bucks on the brink of elimination, as they are now down 3-1 in the series.
Butler also set a career-high in scoring in both the regular season and playoffs, and his over 50-point postseason game is the first in the entire NBA since Giannis Antetokounmpo did so in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
It was absolutely incredible what Jimmy did last night and as a Miami Heat fan, you guys know I was loving every second of it. Jimmy Buckets, baby! (RELATED: REPORT: Houston Rockets Hire Ime Udoka As New Head Coach Despite Once Being Surrounded By Alleged Scandal)
Just check out the jaw-dropping history that he accomplished:
Jimmy Butler:
🏀 56 points, 29th player in NBA history to score 50 or more in playoff game
🏀 Highest scoring postseason game since Giannis Antetokounmpo in July 2021
🏀 8 seed Heat up 3-1 on 1 seed Bucks
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 25, 2023
40-point playoff games by a Heat:
7 — Jimmy Butler
7 — Dwyane Wade
3 — LeBron JamesThe only Heat to reach 40 points in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/92seDfeCe0
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 25, 2023
First player in franchise history with a 50-point playoff game. pic.twitter.com/RRO6EofPJK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler in Game 4:
56 PTS (franchise record)
9 REB
19-28 FGFirst player with a 50-point playoff game since Giannis in the Finals. pic.twitter.com/5cKDdTPj08
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 25, 2023
Give this man the MVP! And now!
“I don’t know about MVP. I think that’s Joel.”
Jimmy Butler on MVP chants during his historic Game 4 performance pic.twitter.com/GDtoyf3PJH
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 25, 2023
What a beautiful night … a beautiful night, indeed.
Speechless.
3-1 series lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y6WvSATc1K
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 25, 2023
It feels good to be a Miami Heat fan.