NBA Twitter busy after Jimmy Butler upstages Giannis' Antetokounmpo's return to playoffs
Giannis Antetokounmpo's return to the NBA playoff stage was supposed to help get the Bucks' first-round series with the Miami Heat back to even Monday night, but Jimmy Butler wouldn't relinquish his leading role.
The former Marquette star had a playoff game for the ages, scoring 56 points including 20 straight in the Heat's 119-114 victory over the Bucks that gave Miami a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Only three players have scored more points in a playoff game.
NBA social media certainly took notice of Butler's performance:
Jimmy Butler put on the best performance this Playoff season scoring 56 points against the Milwaukee Bucks and ushering the Heat to a 3-1 Series lead!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 25, 2023
I cannot remember any player in any playoff game ever getting and staying as hot start to finish as Jimmy Butler just did against the NBA's best defensive team - a No.-1 overall seed fighting for its playoff life desperately trying to avoid a 3-1 hole.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 25, 2023
PLAYOFF MF HIMMY BUTLER
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler's historic 56-point performance in Game 4 is tied for 4th most EVER in a Playoff game.
Michael Jordan, 63
Elgin Baylor, 61
Donovan Mitchell, 57
Charles Barkley, 56
Wilt Chamberlain, 56
Michael Jordan, 56
Jimmy Butler, 56#PLAYOFFMODE pic.twitter.com/xibqM2tcZp— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler is the 5th player over the last 25 postseasons to score 20 straight points for his team in a playoff game. He joins:
🏀LeBron James in 2007
🏀Kobe Bryant in 2010
🏀Ja Morant from Saturday
🏀Tracy McGrady in 2001. pic.twitter.com/ZGDVU2QnX2— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler's first half
24 Points (22 1st Quarter)
9/13 Shooting
2/3 Threes
1 Dunk on Giannispic.twitter.com/rpx1zFlrhp— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 25, 2023
JIMMY BUTLER IS CARRYING SO HARD pic.twitter.com/xhtVohpCmm
— Bones🦴 (@Boness305) April 25, 2023
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NBA Twitter busy after Jimmy Butler upstages Giannis' Antetokounmpo
