Jimmy Butler put the Miami Heat on his back Monday night in leading them to a 115-104 victory over the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series in Orlando.
Butler finished with a game-high 40 points, which is the most points he’s ever scored in a playoff game in his NBA career. He was a force down the stretch, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter against a Bucks defense that had no answers for his ability to get big buckets.
Butler, of course, spent most of last season with the Philadelphia 76ers before leaving in the offseason to join the Heat in a sign and trade deal.
His former teammate, Sixers star Joel Embiid, was watching Monday night’s game and sent this one-word tweet that had fans assuming he was talking about Butler and how things could have been different for Philly if he stayed:
IF……
— Joel “Do a 180” Embiid??? (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2020
Minutes later he sang the praises of Butler:
Jimmy Butler #TooGood
— Joel “Do a 180” Embiid??? (@JoelEmbiid) September 1, 2020
Twitter had reactions:
Jimmy Butler is a championship-caliber player. I can't believe the Sixers let him go so easily. Unforgivable mistake.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) September 1, 2020
Jimmy stayed in Philly. 👀
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 1, 2020
“If butler stayed”
— Marc 🕚 (@mlorenzo_3) September 1, 2020
Jimmy Butler points tonight: 40
Al Horford points this postseason: 28— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) September 1, 2020
76ers fans when they could’ve kept Jimmy Butler but are now committed to Tobias Harris and Al Horford for $289 million pic.twitter.com/5B3CzohXdU
— Abdul Memon (@abdulamemon) September 1, 2020
There are like 3-5 players alive who can be the engine of a high-level offense and act as a lockdown wing defender, yet everyone spent the last few years convincing themselves Jimmy Butler wouldn't be worth his contract
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) September 1, 2020
Jimmy Butler going to celebrate this win by walking straight into the weight room to deadlift and chew thumbtacks until Game 2.
— Jimmy Wobbler (@WorldWideWob) September 1, 2020
