Hot Butler serves Bucks roast

Miami, Sept. 5: Jimmy Butler powered the Miami Heat to a 115-100 victory over Milwaukee on Friday that pushed the top-seeded Bucks to the brink of elimination in the NBA playoffs.

Butler scored 17 of his 30 points in the Heat’s scorching fourth quarter, Miami out-scoring the Bucks 40-13 in the final period to seize a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.

It was the most lopsided final period in a playoff game since the NBA introduced the shot clock in

1954.

Western Conference top seeds the Los Angeles Lakers were also beaten Friday in the NBA’s coronavirus quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida, falling 112-97 to the Houston Rockets in game one of their conference semi-final series.

A near triple-double of

21 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists from the Bucks' reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo was simply not enough as

the Heat remained unbeaten in the playoffs.

The Bucks, who took the best record in the league into the post-season, must now try to do what no NBA team has done before in 139 prior attempts: Rally from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series.

Antetokounmpo said the Bucks could be the first if they take it not game-bygame but “play-by-play, possession, by possession.

Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat. Jae Crowder scored 17 points, Goran Dragic added 15 and Tyler Herro chipped in 13 off the bench.

The Bucks got a scare midway through the first period when

Antetokounmpo rolled his right ankle on a drive.

Despite a few winces he insisted it didn’t trouble him, and Milwaukee looked like clawing back a victory when they led 5750 at halftime and 87-75 going into the fourth quarter.

HARDEN FUELS ROCKETS PAST LAKERS

James Harden’s 36 points fueled the Rockets, whose size disadvantage against the Lakers proved no handicap.

Russell Westbrook added 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Houston harried the Los Angeles team led by superstar LeBron James and Anthony Davis — who sat out the waning minutes with the game out of hand.

Harden bounced back from a poor shooting night in the Rockets’ game-seven win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The Lakers hadn't played since polishing off the Portland Trail Blazers six days earlier.

AFP Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat dunks during their Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round match against the Milwaukee Bucks in NBA Playoffs at the Field House in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Friday. Miami won 115-100. —