Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Butler joined exclusive group in Heat's stunning Game 1 win over Bucks

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/16/23

On Sunday, largely thanks to a remarkable performance from Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat stunned the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

In Miami's 130-117 win over Milwaukee, Butler finished with 35 points, 11 assists and three blocks. Butler is only the fourth player ever, joining Michael Jordan, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James to post 35 or more points with 10 plus assists and at least three rebounds in multiple postseason games.

Jimmy Butler is the 4th player to record 35 points, 10 assists and 3 steals in multiple playoff games, joining Michael Jordan, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/B9blrmLBr3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 17, 2023

Butler accomplished the feat for the first time in the 2020 NBA Finals, tallying 35 points, 11 assists and five steals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 33-year-old veteran also surpassed the great LeBron James on Sunday, posting his 10th 35-plus point effort in the postseason as a member of the Heat. Butler passes James for second, trailing only Dwayne Wade, who had 14 such games, per NBA History.

While Miami benefited from an injury to Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo early in the first half, Butler ensured the Heat didn't squander the opportunity.

Butler took 27 shots on Sunday. Only Bam Adebayo had more than 10 attempts for the Heat. However, Butler made the most of them, shooting 55 percent from the field while doing most of his damage from inside the arc.

With Antetokounmpo's status for Game 2 Wednesday up in the air, a similar performance from Butler could have the Heat heading back to Miami up 2-0 on the East's top seed.

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