Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler turned in another masterful outing in the NBA Finals with a magnificent triple-double performance in their season-saving 111-108 Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Butler made a little bit of history in doing so, putting him on the shortlist of some elite playoff performances.
First, Butler joined Hall of Famer and former Heat point guard Gary Payton as the only two players to record at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and five steals in the playoff game.
Jimmy Butler joins Gary Payton as the only players in NBA history to post 35+ PTS, 10+ REB, 10+ AST and 5+ STL in an NBA Playoffs game! pic.twitter.com/wXlcM2iAj9
— NBA (@NBA) October 10, 2020
Furthermore, the 31 year old became just the fourth player in NBA history to notch multiple 35-point triple doubles in a single postseason run. Before his special performance on Friday, Butler dropped a 40-point triple-double in Game 3 that also led to a Miami victory.
Jimmy Butler becomes the 4th player to go for two 35+ point triple-doubles in a single postseason… and the @MiamiHEAT force a Game 6! #SAPStatLineOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/RoZOJTAtIr
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) October 10, 2020
Butler's final line in Game 5 read as such: 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and five steals. The 5-time All-Star also shot 11-of-19 from the field, made two 3-pointers, and converted all of his 12 shots from the foul line. This included four crucial free-throws within the final minute of the fourth quarter as he and Lakers superstar LeBron James dueled down the stretch.
Butler and the Heat overcame a special performance from The King as James went for 40 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in the loss. The Lakers certainly had their chances to win banner no. 17. Luckily for the Heat, Los Angeles failed to convert on the most important possession of the game, where Danny Green bricked a potential championship-clinching triple and Markieff Morris turned the ball over on a bad pass.
Miami lives to fight another day and this is in large part due to Butler's epic performance in Game 5. The Heat will certainly need their superstar leader to replicate these performances two more times if they want to finish the job and shock the world.
Follow Us
Subscribe