Finished when 14 down early? No problem, not even if it meant tying the fourth-largest playoff comeback in franchise history.
Done when down 12 at the end of the third period? No worries, not with a 40-13 fourth quarter that represented the most lopsided final period in NBA playoff history in the shot-clock era.
So, in the end, just another Miami Heat victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series, this time by a 115-100 count Friday night at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.
With the Heat up 3-0, both sides stand well aware that no team has recovered from such a deficit in an NBA playoff series.
"You have to be competitively humble," coach Erik Spoelstra said.
The series continues Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in Game 4.
No NBA team has overcome a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series, losing all 139 such series.
As was the case in Game 1, the Heat put the ball in Butler's hands and put it away.
With a little help from his friends.
A 3-pointer with 2:15 to play by Jae Crowder put the Heat up 107-100, with the Heat, unlike their shaky Wednesday Game 2 finish, closing comfortably from there.
Butler led the Heat with 30 points, shooting 14 of 19 from the foul line. He was supported by a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double from center Bam Adebayo, as well as 17 points from Crowder, 15 from Goran Dragic and 13 from Tyler Herro.
Adebayo and Butler combined for 27 fourth-quarter points. Butler outscored the Bucks 17-13 in the fourth quarter.
Despite twisting his right ankle early, Giannis Antetokounmpo pushed through for 21 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists for the Bucks, but also was 0 for 7 on 3-pointers and 7 of 12 from the foul line. Brook Lopez added 22 points for the Bucks and Khris Middleton 18.
