The Miami Heat led a golden opportunity go in Game 4 as the Milwaukee Bucks rallied in overtime to emerge with a 118-115 win to get their first win of the series (3-1).
TAKEAWAYS: Middleton takes over late in Game 4 as Bucks win in OT
The Heat looked in control early after taking a 27-15 lead late in the first quarter and when Giannis Anetokounmpo exited the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, the stage was set for the Heat to close out the series and complete the sweep.
Until Khris Middleton happened.
Middleton poured in a playoff career-high 36 points, including nine in the extra period to help keep their season alive.
With the Bucks leading 113-112 with under 10 seconds to go in overtime, Middleton drilled the dagger 3-pointer from the top of the arc to seal the win.
BANG!! pic.twitter.com/p1uobI2VA5
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 6, 2020
Following the loss, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler lamented their lack of focus down the stretch.
“We relaxed a little bit," Butler told reporters, "We stopped playing basketball the right way. We stopped guarding. We stopped living by our defensive principles.
"We weren't getting 50/50 balls, we were getting outrebounded, it was just all bad.”
Heat’s Jimmy Butler on Game 4 loss to Bucks: “We relaxed a little bit. We stopped playing basketball the right way. We stopped guarding. We stopped living by our principles. It was all bad.” pic.twitter.com/K5Me7tVC10
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 6, 2020
The Heat entered the fourth quarter leading 88-85 and they extended their lead to as many as eight points (100-92) following a bucket from Goran Dragic. However, Milwaukee persevered, clawing their way back into the contest thanks to some big shots from George Hill, Brook Lopez, and Middleton — with Butler conceding the Heat let their foot off the gas.
“Yeah, I think so. I think that was it,” Butler said. “We did what we always say we can’t do which is get comfortable. We thought this one was going to be easy and it was not … so going into the next one we just got to put them away.”
Afrer taking over late in Game 3, Butler had a quiet night in Game 4, recording just 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the field.
It's unclear if Antetokounmpo will be available for the next game. Regardless the Heat will have another shot to finish off the series on Wednesday when the two teams face off in Game 5.
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