Miami Heat make Conference Finals for the first time since 2014 after dominating Bucks

For first time since LeBron James left in 2014, Miami Heat have me it to Eastern Conference Finals. Led by Jimmy Butler, Heat mand to beat Milwaukee Bucks – .1 seed in league – 4-1 in series to vance to Conference Finals. With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Heat beat Bucks 103-94 in Game 5. 

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NBA playoffs: Miami Heat vs Bucks highlights

Heat vs Bucks: Miami Heat beat . 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks to reach Eastern Conference Finals

. 5 seeded Miami Heat are w lowest seed to reach Conference Finals since 1999. Butler helped team maintain ir momentum throughout game, including a stunning fourth quarter which included six free throws that helped Heat maintain ir le. Both Butler and Goran Dragic scored a team-high 17 points. Butler ded 10 rebounds and 6 assists while shooting 4-of-6 from field and 100% from free-throw line. Jae Crowder stepped up for Miami with three-pointers, but also helped limit Khris Middleton to 8-of-25 from field and only 22.2% from three-point range. Crowder scored 16 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 4-of-9 from field, all of which were long-range shots.

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"We have deep, deep respect for that franchise and it's unfortunate that Giannis couldn't play tonight," Heat he coach Erik Spoelstra said during a postgame interview. t only is this Heat's first Conference Finals in six years, but it is also Butler's deepest playoff run. Following his 17-point performance, 30-year-old forward expressed that it "means a lot" to him, but ir goal is to bag NBA title. Tyler Herro, Bam ebayo and Kelly Olynyk ded 14, 13 and 12 points respectively to oust Giannis-less Bucks. 

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On or hand, Middleton scored 23 points for Bucks, while Brook Lopez ded 15 points and 14 rebounds. Donte DiVincenzo ded 17 points, while both Wesley Matws and Marvin Williams recorded 11 points. Though Giannis wanted to play Game 5, his injury sidelined him from this contest. 

game began with a 28-15 run from Bucks, but Heat came back with a 30-9 run, which gave m a 45-37 le with second quarter showing 4:36 left on clock. Though Bucks tried to overtake Heat, Crowder's three-pointer with 3:07 left on clock secured Heat's win. 

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last time Heat played Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James led team to a 3-1 to 4-2 victory against Indiana Pacers. However, Heat lost finals to San Antonio Spurs in a 4-1 series. James, who h led Heat to four straight finals appearances and two back-to-back championships (2012, 2013), returned to Cleveland Cavaliers that offseason. 

(Im credits: NBA.com)