With a spectacular action and 42 points, Miami star Butler sealed the end for co-favorite Milwaukee. Next opponent: Isaiah Hartenstein’s Knicks.
Led by a once again outstanding Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat won the dramatic fifth playoff game at the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday evening (04/26/2023, local time). After extra time and a 16-point deficit, Miami prevailed with 128:126 and clearly won the series 4:1. Milwaukee started the playoffs as the best team in the main round and one of the favorites, the early end is a big surprise.
Butler had 42 points and saved Miami into overtime in the first place with less than a second left in regulation time. Lying diagonally in the air, he caught a long throw and converted it to 118:118 as he fell.
An equally strong performance by superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was not enough for the Bucks, the Greek had 38 points and 20 rebounds.
Hartenstein and Knicks one lap further
In the semifinals of Eastern Conference the Heat meet the New York Knicks. The Knicks with national player Isaiah Hartenstein are in the NBA quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. They won 106-95 against the Cleveland Cavaliers and early won the best-of-seven series 4-1.
Isaiah Hartenstein (r) reached the next round with the New York Knicks.
Jalen Brunson scored the best point for the team from New York with 23 points, Hartenstein scored one point, two rebounds and two assists in just under twelve minutes of play.
Lose Lakers
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers around Dennis Schröder missed the early entry into the next round. The Lakers lost 99-116 to the Memphis Grizzlies, but the California team still leads the streak 3-2 on wins and is now home.
Lakers star LeBron James remained below his chances with 15 points, the strong performance of his teammate Anthony Davis (31 points, 19 rebounds) was not enough for the 17-time champion. In the Grizzlies, the duo of Desmond Bane (33 points, ten rebunds) and Ja Morant, who contributed 31 points to the win, convinced. Schröder remained without points in 19 minutes.
Golden State Warriors take the lead
Defending champions Golden State Warriors, for their part, made a big step towards the next round. In the California duel against the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors won 123-116 and went 3-2 up in the playoff series after being down 0-2. Stephen Curry was the best player on his team with 31 points.