After suffering a historic fourth quarter meltdown, the Milwaukee Bucks now stand one game away from elimination after losing to the Miami Heat in Game 3.
The Milwaukee Bucks are officially down to their last stand this 2019-20 season after their late meltdown led to a 115-100 Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat Friday night.
Milwaukee’s offense couldn’t have been clicking better to start the game, thanks to Khris Middleton setting the tone following the tip. But the Heat’s sharpshooting was a thorn in the Bucks’ side to start the night, meaning Milwaukee only clung to a 30-29 edge at the end of one.
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The Bucks continued to operate close to full cylinders and started to break away from the Heat at times throughout the second quarter. Yet Miami’s resiliency was on fully display as they made it 57-50 game going into the halftime break.
Once play resumed in the second half, the Heat’s resilience paid off as they reclaimed the lead at 67-66 with 5:53 to go in the third.
But the Bucks promptly went on a 21-8 run to close out the third quarter as their sparkling play on both ends of the court resulted in them holding a 87-75 advantage through three.
Little by little, though, the Bucks’ hold on the game would be loosened by the Heat as their offense quickly went cold and Jimmy Butler absolutely took over and recorded trip after trip to the free throw line. Eventually, the Heat outscored the Bucks 40-13 in the fourth quarter and the Bucks’ historic meltdown truly stands for the record books as you can see by this tweet from ESPN’s Kirk Goldsberry.
Worst 4th Quarter Points Differentials In Playoff History:
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) September 5, 2020
2020 Bucks vs. Heat ...... -27
1986 Spurs vs. Lakers ... -26
2015 Clips vs. Rockets ... -25
2003 Mavs vs. Spurs ..... -25
2002 Nets vs. Celtics ... -25
h/t @EliasSports
So without further ado, let’s break down what stood out from the Bucks’ monumental collapse in Game 3 Friday night against the Miami Heat.