In game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Boston Celtics, Jimmy Butler once again shone.
When his side won another game on the road to grab a commanding 2-0 series lead, the Miami Heat player came up big in the fourth quarter.
As a result of Butler’s altercation with Grant Williams, which made headlines, the Heat were able to defeat the Pacers 111-105.
The confrontation began in the middle of the fourth quarter after Williams sank a three-pointer to give the Celtics a 96-87 lead with 6:37 remaining on the clock. As he was rushing back on defense, he began chirping at Butler, who responded in kind.
He smiled and then hit a shot on Williams, who fouled him. The pair went head to head before getting separated. Both were assessed a technical foul.
From that moment on, the three-time NBA champions went on a 24-9 run which effectively won them the game.
Butler scored nine of his 27 points since his back-and-forth with Williams, per CBS Sports.
Butler reacts to Williams’s confrontation
After the game, the 33-year-old said the spat fueled him.
“Yes, it did,” Butler said. “But that’s just competition at its finest. He hit a big shot, 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…I just don’t know if I’m the best person to talk to,” via ESPN.
“I just don’t know if I’m the best person to talk to.”
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 20, 2023
Jimmy Butler on Grant Williams talking to him in the 4Q 🍿 pic.twitter.com/G6SX2fyfrm
Williams welcomed the spat.
“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.”
Bam Adebayo contributed 22 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists. The Heat bench also stepped up. Caleb Martin was great, notching a playoff career-high with 25 points, while Duncan Robinson added 15 points off the bench.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 34 points but finished the fourth quarter without a field goal.
Celtics vs. Heat Game 2 takeaways
Sports Brief earlier looked at the major talking points from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.
The major takeaway was the confrontation between Butler and Williams.
Jaylen Brown’s dismal performance was also a hot topic after the game. Brown had 16 points but shot 7-of-23.