Wild stat shows Heat are always alive with Jimmy Butler

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Wild postseason stat shows Heat are always alive with Jimmy Butler

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 5/18/23

Behind star Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat have already proved that no one can count them out this postseason. However, one cool stat shows Butler's never-say-die attitude has been with the Heat since day one.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday, the Heat won despite being outscored by the Boston Celtics in three of the four quarters, a feat they achieved for the seventh time since Butler joined the club ahead of the 2019-20 season. The rest of the NBA field has only seven such wins combined over the same period.

Last night, the Heat lost 3 of the 4 quarters and still won the game.

Since the 2020 Bubble, the Heat have won 7 playoff games where they lost 3 of the 4 quarters. The rest of the NBA has 7 such wins combined. pic.twitter.com/pddavxnyFn
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 18, 2023

After the Heat's stunning victory, head coach Erik Spoelstra said it was impossible to "quantify" Butler's impact. However, the above stat does a decent job, showing the Heat are always alive in a postseason tilt with Butler behind the wheel, even if their opponent outscores them for more than half of the contest.

Despite trailing by as many as 13 points in Game 1, the Heat came away with a 123-116 victory. Butler helped the Heat take control in the second half behind a 46-point third quarter while recording 35 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds in Miami's win.

The Heat will still have doubters even up 1-0 over the Celtics in the conference finals. So far, Butler has quieted the naysayers as the eighth-seeded Heat's remarkable postseason run slowly turns from a feel-good story to potential destiny.

More must-reads: