LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 04: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Jimmy Butler had a career night in a Game 3 victory for the Heat.
Jimmy Butler is not shy about telling everyone he is one of the best players in the NBA. He finally lived up to the talk Sunday night in arguably the most important game of his career.
The Miami Heat entered Sunday trailing the Los Angeles Lakers 2-0 in the Finals. A loss would doom the Heat’s chances of winning the series. Butler ended up saving the day with 40 points en route to a triple-double to make the series competitive again at 2-1.
Jimmy Butler plays like a star
The Heat were without both Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo for Game 3. Butler had to step up and did with his huge night. He shot 14-20 from the field and added 12 made free-throws to get to 40 points. He also played 45 minutes and had a plus-minus of plus-20 in the 115-104 win.
This is Butler’s second triple-double of the postseason. His first came in Game 1 of the conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks. That game also ended as a 115-104 Head victory. The difference that night was Butler only had four rebounds and two assists. Finishing with 13 assists for the second straight game shows just how important Butler is on the court for the Heat.
Not having Dragic and especially Adebayo put the Heat at a huge disadvantage. Butler stepped up the most, while Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson combined for 30 points. Kelly Olynyk also had 17 points off the bench.
Butler had a combined 48 points in the first two games of these Finals. He may have to play 45 minutes a night and score around 40 points if the Heat are going to have a shot at winning three more games in the series.
The Heat found the formula to win on a night when LeBron James nearly posted a triple-double of his own. The key was keeping Anthony Davis quiet with only 15 points and five rebounds. Whether that can be done throughout the rest of the series remains to be seen.
Butler has been waiting for the statement game of his career and he had it Sunday night. Now comes the hard task of reaching this level of play again three more times.