Jimmy Butler isn't backing down from anyone, not even LeBron James.
The Miami Heat star converted bucket after bucket almost the entire game of Sunday's incredible 115-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. With his team down 0-2, Butler came out was swinging and was fearless as he attacked the paint and was a headache to defend for the Lakers.
Butler's intensity was present the entire evening and even took it as far as taunting James after a key basket late in the fourth. But, according to the Heat forward, he was just returning the favor.
“First of all, we’re not going to act like I’m talking trash, because I’m not,” Butler said after the game (per USA Today). “‘Bron said it to me at the end of the first. That’s what happened. I just said it to him in the fourth quarter.”
Jimmy Butler said he was calling back something LeBron James said to him earlier in the game when he was caught on camera late in the contest saying the Lakers were "in trouble."
"Competition at it's finest," Butler said. pic.twitter.com/DIT6oOJWuO
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) October 5, 2020
Here are both plays just to give you some context on Jimmy Butler's fourth-quarter antics against James:
Article Continues Belowhttps://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1312948131039006720
Through Butler's energy, the Heat came roaring out of the gates and mounted a double-digit lead in the opening quarter. James though made sure his team bounced back from their slow start and ended the first quarter with their own run which led to James telling Butler that the Heat was in trouble. Butler made sure to bottle James' words, shake it up and explode with a crazy 40-11-13 game to push Miami to a Game 3 victory.
“It's competition at it's finest.” Butler added. “I think LeBron has gotten the best of me way too many times. I respect the guy for it but this is a different time now.”
The duel between these two superstars continues come Game 4 between Miami and LA on Tuesday.