By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The duo of Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic got the job done, leading the Miami Heat in the 115-104 over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals.
Butler made all the big shots in crunch time for a total of 40 points, a new personal best in the playoffs, while the Slovenian guard added 27 points.
The veteran duo got also a double-double by Bam Adebayo (12 p. 17 r.) while the Heat in total missed just two free throws (25/27).
On the contrary, the Bucks in a close game had just 14/26 free throws and Giannis Antetokounmpo, despite flirting with a triple-double (18 p. 10 r. 9 as.), made only four out of 12 free throws.
That’s the worst performance by anyone with at least 12 free-throw attempts in a playoff game since Andre Roberson went 2 for 12 for Oklahoma City on April 23, 2017, against Houston.
The Bucks had the advantage in the first half, after leading 40-29 in the first quarter.
Kris Middleton scored 28 points, Brook Lopez added 24 but in the closing minutes, they couldn’t keep up with the Heat and Butler.
Tyler Herro added 11 points for Miami, which improved to 5-0 in the postseason.
Photo credit: Gettyimages