Heat Vanquish Bucks In Game 5

     The Eastern Conference lowest-seeded Miami Heat came back from a 16-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and defeated the Eastern Conference top seed Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in overtime in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night. The Heat won the best-of seven series 4-1 and eliminated the Bucks for the second time in four seasons. 

     It was the just the sixth time in NBA history that a #8 playoff seed knocked off a #1 playoff seed. It was only the fourth time this occurrence happened in a seven-game series. 

     The Bucks had the best record in National Basketball Association during the 2022-23 regular season with a 58-24 record. Milwaukee exited from the NBA Playoffs in the first round for the first time since 2017-18. 

     Miami will take on their longtime nemesis the New York Knicks in the next round. Both teams will meet for the sixth time ever in the NBA Playoffs. 

     Jimmy Butler passed Chris Bosh for third place all-time in Miami Heat franchise history in career postseason points. Butler also set another team record with his eighth 40-point postseason game. 

     Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra collected his 100th victory in the NBA Playoffs to tie Larry Brown for fifth all-time in NBA history. He passed legendary Boston Celtics head coach Red Auerbach who had 99 career postseason wins. 

     Miami started off up 36-33 at the end of the first quarter. Milwaukee moved by them and led 69-63 at halftime. 

     The Heat had an 81-80 lead with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter. The Bucks went on a 22-5 run for the rest of the frame and were ahead 102-86. The Heat put in eight straight points to begin the fourth quarter on 25-9 spurt and tied it 111-111 with 2:11 left. Jimmy Butler caught an in-bound pass on an alley-oop and scored the basket in mid-air to put it into overtime 118-118 with no time remaining in the fourth. 

     In overtime, Miami started the extra session and outscored Milwaukee 8-1 in the first three minutes and led 126-119. Grayson Allen never got off a running jump shot in the lane from five-feet away to tie it up because time expired. 

     Butler chalked up a game-high 42 points along with eight rebounds for the Heat. Bam Adebayo compiled a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Kevin Love had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Gabe Vincent was able to drop in 22 points in the victory. 

     The Bucks were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo as he scored a team-high 38 points and a brought down a game-high 20 rebounds. Khris Middleton contributed 33 points with six assists and six rebounds. Brook Lopez got a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.