Bucks Zone

Brook Lopez tips hat to Jimmy Butler after incredible Game 4 - "Jimmy just being Jimmy"

Brook Lopez could do nothing but tip his hat off to Jimmy Butler for his remarkable Game 4 performance.

Jonas Panerio

© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
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Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez had the game of his NBA Playoff career in Game 4, with 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. However, all that was for nothing as his career night was overshadowed by the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler's own Playoff career-high performance of 56 points in a 119-114 Heat victory.

Afterward, the 7-footer gave the Marquette product his flowers, saying a performance of that magnitude was certainly in Butler’s wheelhouse and very much worthy of recognition.

“I think he was playing his game. He hit big shots, got to the line, especially toward the end. He made some good plays. Jimmy just being Jimmy,” said Lopez.

Got into a rhythm

The Bucks had the game in control for most of Game 4, leading by as much as 14 in the fourth quarter. They were still up by 10 when Butler joined the fray with 8:11 remaining in the ballgame. He then proceeded to spark a 13-0 run to hand the Heat the lead. He later scored 10 straight to secure the Miami victory that places them a win away from completing an upset of the league’s best team this season.

Lopez said Butler got hot early—he scored 22 in the first—and just rode that rhythm all the way to the endgame.

“I just feel like he was playing, you know? Sometimes you catch fire, you get into a rhythm, and not much can be done. He played a really good game,” shared Lopez.

“He obviously played great," Lopez said. "He’s been great all series long. He’s been aggressive. He’s just been knocking down shots, shooting the three extremely well. There hasn’t been a thing that the hasn’t been doing.”

Time to make adjustments

With the Bucks’ season now on the line, Milwaukee has to find solutions to the problems that Butler has been causing.

“It’s a tough draw, but we just gotta keep getting better, keep making life tough for him, one game at a time,” Lopez said.

That responsibility lies in the hands of Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer and his coaching staff, who must now come up with a strategy sufficient enough to at least slow down Butler.

“We’ll look at the film, see what we could do better. But credit to him, he was very good,” said Budenholzer.

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO