Playoff Butler shows out in Game 1 win over Knicks

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler brings the ball up court against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart during the first quarter of Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Playoff Jimmy Butler shows out in Game 1 win over Knicks

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/30/23

The "Mecca" was no match for Jimmy Butler on Sunday.

Butler led the Miami Heat to a 108-101 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, quieting a packed Madison Square Garden.

The Heat's unquestioned leader continued his outstanding postseason, finishing with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Butler is only the fifth player in NBA history to post 25 points on 50% shooting in the first six games of the postseason, joining LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Bernard King and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2x).

Game 1 didn't start like the Heat, and Butler may have hoped. Heading into the halftime break, Miami trailed New York, 55-50, while the Knicks held Butler to only 11 first-half points.

Although, as they've done throughout the playoffs, Butler and company took over in the second half.

On one end of the floor, the Heat defense dug in, holding the Knicks to only 46 points after halftime. Meanwhile, Butler, Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry went to work on the offensive end, helping Miami steal Game 1 in New York.

Jimmy Butler and Gabe Vincent come up big to help lead Miami to a 1-0 series lead!

Butler 25 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL
Vincent: 20 PTS, 5 AST, 5 3PM

Game 2: Tuesday, 7:30 PM ET, TNT pic.twitter.com/3uM8gsIBx8
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2023

Along with Butler's 25-point performance, Vincent ended the day with 20 points, adding five three pointers to pace the Heat's starters while Lowry dropped 18 off the bench.

Miami has the 1-0 advantage over the Knicks, but they will have to monitor the health of Butler ahead of Game 2.

Late in the fourth quarter, Butler rolled his right ankle while driving to the basket. He stayed lying on the hardwood, grabbing the ankle, for what seemed like an eternity but returned to finish the game.

Jimmy Butler is down after rolling his ankle on this play pic.twitter.com/VeiDjcF5E2
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 30, 2023

After the game, head coach Erik Spoelstra gave a grim update on Butler's ankle sprain, telling reporters he wasn't sure if the team would know anything even on Monday.

"There'll be a waiting game," Spoelstra said via the Heat. "But he did not want to come out of the game, so we left him in there."

The Heat will look to take a 2-0 advantage back to Miami when they take on the Knicks at MSG for Game 2 Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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