Butler scores 30, Heat top Giannis-less Bucks 121-99

MIAMI (AP) —Jimmy Butler took a hard fall.VictorOladipo took a harder one.And the Miami Heat still founda way to knock off the Milwaukee Bucks, reclaiming the lead intheir Eastern Conference playoff series.

Butler scored30 points before leaving with a sore glute, leading theeighth-seeded Heat past the top-seeded Bucks 121-99 on Saturdaynight for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

But whatshould have been a celebratory postgame — big win, series lead,halfway to upsetting the NBA’s top overall seed — was anythingbut,after Oladipo left in thefourth quarterafter a knee injury that had the Heatfearing very bad news.

“I feelprobably like how everybody feels,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.“It was a great win, but when you see a player go down like that —especially a player like Vic who’s gone through so much in the lastthree years ... that’s definitely not a good feeling.”

Injuries havenow become the biggest story in this series. The Bucks were withouttwo-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for a second consecutive gamebecause of a bruised lower back, an injury he suffered in Game 1.The Heat were already without Tyler Herro because of a broken righthand, also from Game 1.

Butler wasn’tmoving well, and Oladipo’s situation — even without the Heatoffering an initial diagnosis yet — did not seem good, based on theinstant reaction of disbelief from teammates and staffers whorushed to his side as he grabbed at the knee.

“We’re allpraying for the best,” said Heat guard Duncan Robinson, who scored20 points on his 29th birthday for Miami. Kyle Lowry scored 15 forthe Heat.

KhrisMiddleton scored 23 points, Jrue Holiday added 19 and Grayson Allenscored 14 for Milwaukee.

Game 4 is inMiami on Monday night, when the Heat will aim for a 3-1 lead. Miamitook Game 1, Milwaukee took Game 2, Miami won Game 3 and now it’llbe the Bucks looking for another bounce-back.

“We need tobe better,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Like I said, givethem credit. They played well. We need to be better. We need todeal with a lot of things better. That’ll be the challenge goinginto the next game.”

With the win,the Heat are halfway to what would be a stunner — a No. 8 seed overa No. 1 seed, something that’s happened only five times since theNBA went to the 16-team playoff format in 1984.

Those whopulled it off: Denver over Seattle 3-2 in 1994, New York over Miami3-2 in 1999, Golden State over Dallas 4-2 in 2007, Memphis over SanAntonio 4-2 in 2011 and Philadelphia over Chicago 4-2 in 2012.

Butler gothurt midway through the third quarter after trying a shot near therim and landing on his back. He stayed in the game briefly,departed for a short stint in the locker room and returned with alarge wrap on his back — with the Heat saying he would return.

He didn’t,because he didn’t have to. The game was in hand, and Miamieventually led by as many as 29.

“We still hadour chances,” Middleton said. “Just couldn’t get it together.”

The firsthalf couldn’t have gone better for Miami. Butler had 17 points inthe opening quarter, the Heat had a 19-0 run at one point, they seta franchise record by making 12 3’s in a half — and it was stillonly 66-53 at the break.

The reason,again: Milwaukee was getting 3’s, again. The Bucks made 25 of themin their easy Game 2 win and were 10 for 18 from deep in the firsthalf Saturday.

But the Buckscooled after halftime, shooting only 5 for 21 from 3-point range,and the outcome was never in doubt.

TIP-INS

Bucks:Holiday’s first 10 points came in the opening 4:43. He reached 10points faster in only one other game this season, needing 4:18 todo so against Toronto on Jan. 17. … Pat Connaughton scored 11 forMilwaukee.

Heat: KevinLove returned to the Miami starting lineup. … Robinson had beenpart of only one other Heat game on his birthday — it was lastyear, when Miami lost Game 3 of a first-round series againstAtlanta 111-110. Miami was 6-0 all-time in games played on April 22before that. … Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel wascourtside.