Throw that smile this way.
Show that smile this way.
The Miami Heat is catching attention in the bubble.
Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, and the Heat hit the Indiana Pacers in the mouth after a 124-115 win on Saturday to take a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference playoff series.
No team has come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Teams are 0-138.
“He is putting his body on the line,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Miami made 43 of 52 free throws while Indiana made 21 of 28.
“I can’t explain that,” Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. “I can’t explain that. Fifty-two free throws is ridiculous. … This is the playoffs. I thought some of those calls were — I just — I can’t explain it.”
Butler made 17 of 20 free throws.
Pacers put up a fight and nearly made a come back from being down by 20 points.
Butler was in attack mode majority of the game, adding to his 20 trips to the free-throw line. In the fourth quarter, he said nine of his 27 to go along with his three steals.
Tyler Herro continues to impress. The constant reminder is he is a rookie. Yes, however, he is making plays especially assisting in finding his teammates at a high level.
Herro finished with a playoff career-high 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line.
Goran Dragic added 24 points; Bam Adebayo had 22 points and 11 rebounds. The Heat can close out the first-round series Monday.
Photo/MiamiHeat/MiamiHeatpr
