Miami Heat beats Milwaukee Bucks to secure biggest shock of the NBA playoffs so far

No Giannis, BIG problem! Miami Heat secures biggest shock of NBA playoffs so far with HUGE 130-117 win over No 1 seed Milwaukee… after injury to star man Antetokounmpo left Bucks struggling

  • Tyler Herro broke his hand and Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo was also injured
  • Jimmy Butler had a huge 35-point game as the Heat shocked the No 1 seed Bucks
  • DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

Jimmy Butler had 35 points on a huge night for the Miami Heat, as they beat a Giannis-less Bucks in Milwaukee to seal a huge 130-117 Game 1 win over the top seeds.

Bam Adebayo scored 22 points for the eighth-seeded Heat, who were playing less than 48 hours after qualifying by beating Chicago in a play-in elimination game.

Kevin Love had 18, Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent added 15 apiece and Tyler Herro scored 12 before being sidelined for good in the second quarter because of a broken right hand.

Antetokounmpo suffered a lower back contusion when he fell to the floor in the first quarter. He stayed in the game for a bit before going to the locker room and returned briefly early in the second quarter before leaving the game for good. He finished with six points and three rebounds in 11 minutes.

The top-seeded Bucks clearly missed his scoring, but the Heat already had set the tone before he was sidelined.

Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a lower back contusion and was ruled out early in the game

Jimmy Butler made the most of Giannis' absence by scoring 35 points in a huge performance for the Heat

Butler dunks against the Bucks in Game 1 in Milwaukee

Jimmy Butler made the most of Giannis’ absence by scoring 35 points in a huge performance

Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry (right) look on during the game against the No 1 seed Bucks

Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry (right) look on during the game against the No 1 seed Bucks

Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 33 points, Bobby Portis Jr. had 21 points, Jrue Holiday added 16 points and 16 assists, Grayson Allen scored 12 and Brook Lopez had 10.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

The Bucks trailed by 13 at halftime but used an 11-0 run to get within 78-75 midway through the third quarter.

Adebayo and Martin both converted three-point plays, Love made two 3-pointers and Duncan Robinson added a late trey to help Miami score 24 points in the final 4:49 to open a 102-88 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Milwaukee closed within eight points five times in the fourth quarter but didn’t get any closer.

Butler scored 14 points as Miami took a 33-24 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Giannis drives through the Miami defense during the early stages - before he got injured

Giannis drives through the Miami defense during the early stages – before he got injured

There was an injury for Miami too, as Tyler Herro broke his right hand diving for the ball

There was an injury for Miami too, as Tyler Herro broke his right hand diving for the ball

Kevin Love, still going strong at 34, also put in a huge performance for the road team Sunday

Kevin Love, still going strong at 34, also put in a huge performance for the road team Sunday

Middleton scored 10 points, Portis added six and the Bucks closed within 43-42. The Heat scored the next seven points and opened a 55-44 lead on a 3-pointer by Love.

Butler and Vincent each scored four more points as Miami increased the lead to 68-55 at halftime.

In the final minute of the first half, Herro dove for a loose ball but did not beat his opponent to it. Herro hit his hand on the court while sliding past the spot of the ball. Though in visible pain, he stayed in the game and attempted a shot before subbing out. The Heat later announced he had broken his hand.

Butler drives to the basket to try and score a lay-up against Milwaukee in a hard-fought game

Butler drives to the basket to try and score a lay-up against Milwaukee in a hard-fought game

Jrue Holiday fouls Butler during the first half of the playoff clash at the Fiserv Forum Center

Jrue Holiday fouls Butler during the first half of the playoff clash at the Fiserv Forum Center

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