All playoffs, the Miami Heat could count on Jimmy Butler. Keep things close, or even carve enough into a double-digit deficit, and Butler would inevitably take over in the biggest moments. That didn’t happen Wednesday night, but there was a moment when it nearly did.
The Heat had clawed back from a 19-point hole and were within six with four minutes remaining. Butler drove in for a layup, then hit an 18-footer on the next possession, went to the other end and got a hand on RJ Barrett’s 3-pointer, got fouled, and made a free throw. That 140-second burst cut the deficit to just two points with 2:37 to go.