By CARLO ANOLIN
Don’t count the Miami Heat out just yet.
Jimmy Butler made this statement clear after lifting the Heat past the Los Angeles Lakers 115-104 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals Sunday (Monday, Manila time).
With Butler leading the Heat, the NBA world gave a nod to the Marquette Golden Eagles alumnus.
“Brate @JimmyButler showed today why he is the leader and the heart of this team,” said Dragic, who quoted an NBA tweet showing the final score and players’ statistics.
Three-time NBA champion and Heat great Dwyane Wade was also vocal of his support for his team, praising Butler and describing him as “a beast.”
Wade, also a product of Marquette, quoted a tweet from FOX Sports Jason McIntyre which shows the comparison of Wade’s stat line in the 2006 NBA Finals and Butler’s Game 3 performance.
“Slight flex,” said Wade.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra likewise had nothing but glowing words for his top ward.
“This was a very desperate, urgent game and he was doing it at both ends of the court. He put his imprint on every important part of the game,” the Filipino-American coach said.
Lakers superstar LeBron James, who walked off the court with 10 seconds to go, later tip his hat to Butler during the post-game interview.
“I thought Jimmy was phenomenal. He did everything they needed him to do tonight and he came through big time in a big time game,” said James. “One of the best competitors we had in our game.”
Per ESPN, Butler joined Wade and James as the only Heat players with 30 points in an NBA Finals game.
He also became the 2nd Heat player with 30 points through three quarters of a Finals game, just like Wade did back in 2006.
The feat also made him the sixth player in NBA Finals history with a 30-point-triple double. He also joined James and Jerry West as the only players to tally a 40-point triple-double in the NBA Finals.
But Butler deflected all those numbers, saying he just wanted to win.
“I don’t care about a triple-double. I don’t care about none of that. I really don’t,” the 31-year-old Butler said. “I want to win. We did that. I’m happy with the outcome.”
The Heat seek to even the series at 2-2 when Game 4 kicks off Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).
