Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Jimmy Butler Earned His Chance to be the Hero

In the last two Game 7s he’s played, Jimmy Butler’s seasons came down to some thrilling shots. In Toronto in 2019, he was on the losing end of Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce three that sent the Raptors to the East finals. On Sunday, Butler took matters into his own hands. With the Heat trailing 98–96 after a ferocious, late-game stampede, Jimmy rebounded a Marcus Smart miss, scooted the ball past halfcourt, saw a dropping Al Horford, and with about 15 seconds to go, pulled up for a right-wing three in transition. He front rimmed it. And Miami couldn’t complete its improbable comeback.