Butler, Heat finish upset of Giannis-less Bucks in Game 5

fifth-seeded Miami Heat finished off an upset of NBA’s best regular-season team Tuesday, topping Milwaukee Bucks 103-94 in Game 5 of ir East semifinal series — while Giannis Antetokounmpo, league’s reigning MVP, couldn’t play because of a sprained right ankle.

Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic each scored 17 points for Heat, who won series 4-1 and will face eir Boston or Toronto when NBA’s final four gets underway next week. It’s Miami’s first time in East finals since 2014, and first time Butler has gotten to NBA’s final four.

Jae Crowder scored 16, Tyler Herro scored 14, Bam Adebayo had 13 and Kelly Olynyk had 12 for Heat.

Khris Middleton had 23 points for Milwaukee, which got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Brook Lopez. Donte DiVincenzo scored 17, Wesley Matws and Marvin Williams each had 11 and Eric Bledsoe had nine assists for Bucks.

Antetokounmpo did what he could — cheering from bench throughout, rebounding for teammates during pregame warmups and again at halftime, offering words during timeouts.

But NBA’s . 1 overall seed in se playoffs — a league-best 56-17 in regular season — just didn’t have eugh.

LAKERS 112, ROCKETS 102

LeBron James scored 36 points, Rajon Rondo sparked a fourth-quarter rally and Los Angeles beat Houston to take a 2-1 lead in ir Western Conference playoff series.

James earned his NBA-record 162nd playoff victory, surpassing former Lakers guard Derek Fisher’s 161.

Rondo had 21 points and nine assists as Lakers broke open a close game in final period. He scored eight straight points during a 10-0 run early in fourth quarter that put Lakers ahead for good. Rondo assisted on or basket during that stretch.

Anthony Davis had 26 points and Kyle Kuzma added 14. James Harden scored 33 points and Russell Westbrook had 30 for Rockets.

Rockets forward Robert Covington was taken to locker room after colliding with Davis in fourth quarter.

Im credits: AP