Jimmy Butler on trash talking with Grant Williams: 'It makes me smile' / News - Basketnews.com

Jimmy Butler and Grant Williams reacted to their trash talking. When asked about the impact of Williams' chirping, Butler acknowledged that it fueled his competitive spirit.

Credit: AP/Scanpix Credit AP/Scanpix

In the fourth quarter of Game 2 between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, Grant Williams' attempt at trash talking Jimmy Butler did not have the desired outcome.

Player of the Game EFF 32 Bam Adebayo Points 22 Accuracy 7-17 Rebounds 17 Assists 9

Instead, Butler responded by scoring nine out of his team's 27 points in the final period. This strong performance from Butler enabled Miami to come back from a nine-point deficit with only six minutes left in the game.

As a result, the Heat secured a 111-105 victory and took a 2-0 lead in the series.

"Yes, it did [fuel me]," Butler said of chirping with Williams. "But that's just competition at its finest. He hit a big shot and started talking to me. I like that, I'm all for that. It makes me key in a lot more. It pushes that will that I have to win a lot more. It makes me smile. It does, when people talk to me. I am like, 'Okay, I am a decent player if you wanna talk to me out of everybody that you can talk to.' It's just competition."

Butler then showed appreciation for Williams' skills on the court.

"I do respect him. He's a big part of what they try to do. He switches, he can shoot the ball. I just don't know if I'm the best person to talk to."

Williams, on the other hand, emphasized his competitive nature and his determination to give his all on the court. He acknowledged that Butler outperformed him in the final stretch but expressed his willingness to face the challenge head-on and come back stronger in the future.

"I think he said something and I just responded," Williams said. "I'm a competitor and I'm gonna battle. He got the best of me tonight, and at the end of the day, it's out of respect, because I'm not gonna run away from it. My mom always taught me, and my dad as well, you get your ass kicked and you don't come back home until you come battle again.

"You either come back before you die or you come back and get a win, and I'm not willing to die in this Finals. I'm ready to f***ing get a win. I'm ready to come back and come into Game 3 with a better mentality and I know this team is as well. So at the end of the day, tonight is tonight. We've got to focus in and let this s**t hurt, but at the end of the day, we've gotta come in tomorrow and really focus on what's next."

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