The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in overtime to win the series 4-1 and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 12 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than 7 points at any point. The Bucks led by 1 point at halftime, but the Heat came out strong in the third quarter to take a 91-86 lead. The Bucks rallied in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 109-109 with 10.9 seconds remaining. Butler missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
The Heat dominated overtime, outscoring the Bucks 16-2. Butler scored 8 points in overtime, including the go-ahead layup with 4:54 remaining. The Bucks never recovered, and the Heat held on for the win.
The Heat will now face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games. The Heat and Knicks have not met in the playoffs since 2012, when the Heat won in 5 games.
The Heat are now one step closer to their first NBA championship since 2013. They have a young and talented team led by Butler, Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. The Heat are also well-coached by Erik Spoelstra.
The Knicks are a tough opponent, but the Heat have the talent and experience to win the series. The Heat are playing with a lot of confidence right now, and they are not afraid of anyone.
The Eastern Conference Semifinals should be a great series. The Heat and Knicks are two of the best teams in the NBA, and they are both capable of winning the championship.