Top seeds Bucks face the Heat

Los Angeles, Sept. 1: Jimmy Butler seized control down the stretch, scoring a career- playoff high 40 points as the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening game of their second round NBA playoff series on Monday.

Butler was a one- man wrecking crew, scoring 13 of Miami’s final 16 points in the NBA’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida. He scored 27 of his 40 points in the second half.

Butler warned his teammates not to expect any passes with the game on the line.

“I told my teammates I probably wasn’t going to pass the ball. I made a couple of shots and they said, ‘ That’s fine with me,’” Butler said.

In the Western Conference, Chris Paul scored 28 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder forced a decisive seventh game in their first round series with a 104- 100 win over the mistake- prone Houston Rockets.

Butler is just the third player in Heat history with a 40- point game in the playoffs, joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

“I took it up a level in the fourth. If that’s what needs to happen every game, I have got to do it,” he said.

Game two of the best- ofseven Eastern Conference series is Wednesday in Orlando.

Goran Dragic added 27 points as he helped the Heat clamp down defensively which set the stage

● Butler was a oneman wrecking crew, scoring 13 of Miami’s final 16 points in the NBA’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida. He scored 27 of his 40 points in the second half.

for Butler’s offensive heroics.

With 52 seconds left, Dragic made a clutch defensive play by stealing the ball from Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to preserve Miami’s sevenpoint lead, 111- 104.

Bam Adebayo had 12 points and 17 rebounds and rookie Tyler Herro tallied 11 points for the Heat, who swept the Indiana Pacers in the previous round.

Fifth seeded Miami found a way to contain reigning NBA most valuable player Antetokounmpo, who was limited to just 18 points.

It was the Greek superstar’s fewest points in a playoff game since he was held to 12 by the Toronto Raptors in game three of the NBA semi- finals last season. He also missed eight of 12 free throws against the Heat.

Khris Middleton scored 28 points and Brook Lopez had 24 for the Bucks, who also lost the opening game of their first round series before winning four straight to beat the Orlando Magic in five games.