5 things learned from Bucks-Heat Game 2

Never say never?

It was never Milwaukee’s game to win. The Bucks’ lead at 14-13 with 7:43 to play in the first quarter was quickly erased by a pair of Duncan Robinson free throws. Milwaukee didn’t go back on top again until early in the fourth quarter, which again was swiftly negated, this time by a 7-0 Heat run. But still, Milwaukee had a chance at the end. With about 10 seconds to play in a four-point game, Kyle Korver and George Hill double-teamed Jimmy Butler in the corner and forced a turnover, which led to a Brook Lopez deuce. Khris Middleton tied the game at 114 a few seconds later from the free-throw line. Even though the final four ticks on the clock didn’t go in Milwaukee’s favor — and not too much did Wednesday night — the Bucks still had a chance to steal a game. So, there’s that.

Jimmy Butler, the facilitator

Butler played out of his mind in Game 1, scoring 40 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field and going off for 15 points in the fourth quarter alone. In Game 2, the five-time All-Star took on a different role. Butler poured in 13 points, only five coming in the final frame, and logged a team-high six assists and three steals. He dished the ball to a well-balanced Heat lineup, which saw seven different players score in double figures.

Scoring from paint, free-throw line returns

Of the few positives to take from Milwaukee’s Game 2 loss, the Bucks’ inside scoring is one of them. Milwaukee was uncharacteristically outscored 42-24 in the paint in the series opener but looked like themselves again Wednesday night, dominating the Heat by a score of 52-32 inside. And they were better from the charity stripe, too, improving from an abysmal 53.8% in Game 1 to 84.6% in Game 2. So, what hurt the Bucks? The perimeter. Miami attempted 20 more 3-pointers than the Bucks and drained 10 more, outshooting Milwaukee by a 37.8% to 28% clip from deep. Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Wesley Matthews, Marvin Williams, Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo combined to go 0 for 13 from 3-point range. Ouch.

Eric Bledsoe returned with vengeance … in the first half

After missing Game 1 with a right hamstring strain, Bledsoe returned to Milwaukee’s starting five Wednesday. And, boy, the Bucks missed him. Bledsoe was on the attack in the first two quarters, forcing Heat defenders to collapse the lane while taking pressure off of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the halfcourt offense. At halftime, Bledsoe logged 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Unfortunately, he’d go on to make just one field-goal attempt in the second half and finished the game with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Tyler Herro a thorn in Wisconsin’s side again

As we know, Herro, a product of Whitnall High School, broke the hearts of Wisconsin Badgers fans when he flipped his college decision and attended Kentucky instead. Well, on Wednesday night, Herro delivered a few more daggers to his home state. The rookie tallied 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting (3 of 8 from deep) with five rebounds and four assists off the bench. His biggest moment of the game, perhaps, came midway through the fourth quarter. After Antetokounmpo’s layup cut Miami’s lead to four, Herro knocked down a 3-pointer and then assisted on Jae Crowder’s triple to give the Heat a 10-point advantage with 7:50 to play. Herro, by the way, has scored in double figures in all six of his career postseason contests.