Miami Heat are now very close to making the final of the NBA Playoffs in the Eastern Conference after taking a 3-0 lead against Milwaukee Bucks in their third match on Friday.
Bucks came into the match needing a win to cut the deficit in the series to 2-1, and their good start gave them hopes that they were on that path after having a good game in the first three quarters. However, Heat played an impressive 4th quarter to win the match 115-100.
Jimmy Butler led for Heat with a game-high 30pts, and it made a lot of difference as they pulled clear of Bucks. Nevertheless, the impressive defensive shift from Bam Adebayo helped keep Bucks at bay, particularly their star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
⚒️ Back-to-back Bam hammers before the half on TNT!@MiamiHEAT 50@Bucks 57 pic.twitter.com/WoUNtL9inT
— NBA (@NBA) September 4, 2020
Adebayo made a double-double in the match, hitting 20pts and tied with Giannis in Rebounds, 16 each (14 defensive reb for Adebayo, 12 defensive reb for Giannis) as both players matched each other defensively.
Our 2 NBA All-Stars combined for 27 points in the 4th quarter… we overcame a 12 point deficit in that 4th quarter… so inspirational.@JimmyButler @Bam1of1 #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/Zm8dOINcxS
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 5, 2020
Heat came into the 4th quarter trailing Bucks by 10pts but somehow turned it around and outscored the latter by 27pts in the last quarter, which made all the difference. Now Bucks only have a game to salvage their season.
It is a situation Bucks does not want to be in, now needing to win their next game to avoid a 4-0 blowout and crashing out of the Playoffs, and not stretching the series to seven games. Miami Heat have all the advantage at the moment, but Milwaukee Bucks will come back to the court on Sunday, hoping that they can pull off a miracle.
3-0
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 5, 2020
