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NBA: Heat is on Butler, Bam Adebayo vs Bucks in Game 3

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Field Level Media/Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/tvpatrol/05/23/nba.jpg"/><figcaption>Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to knock the ball away from Miami guard Jimmy Butler in Game 1 of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 22. Jeff Hanisch, USA Today Sports/Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>Jimmy Butler is averaging 13.5 points in two playoff games this year, Bam Adebayo 12.5 points.If the host Miami Heat are to win Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night, Butler and Adebayo likely have to do more. Much more.Butler did not disagree with that premise.&quot;We know what we have to do,&quot; Butler said. &quot;Sometimes we get a little lost in getting everyone else involved. I think at times, you&#x27;ve got to just go, myself especially.&quot;Butler averaged a team-high 21.5 points during the regular season. Adebayo was second in scoring (18.7). Combined, Butler and Adebayo are averaging a combined 14.2 points under their regular-season numbers.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/22/21/nba-bucks-to-face-heat-carrying-plenty-of-motivation">SERIES PREVIEW: Bucks to face Heat carrying plenty of motivation</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/23/21/nba-giannis-middleton-power-bucks-to-ot-win-over-heat">Game 1: Giannis, Middleton power Bucks to OT win over Heat</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/25/21/nba-playoffs-bucks-beat-heat-game-2">Game 2: Bucks thrash Butler, Heat to take 2-0 series lead</a></li></ul>In contrast, the Bucks, who lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, have had no problems at the top of their depth chart as their two best players have played like stars. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 steals in this series, and two-time All-Star Khris Middleton is scoring 22.0 points per game.In Miami&#x27;s 33-year history as an NBA franchise, the Heat have come back to win a series after trailing 2-0 just once -- in the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.Last year, the Heat trailed just once in any series, losing 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.Meanwhile, the Bucks, who went 20-16 on the road this season as opposed to 26-10 at home, now get to test their skills on Miami&#x27;s court. The Heat, 21-15 at home, weren&#x27;t dominant in Miami this season, although 17,000 fans are expected on Thursday, which would make it the Heat&#x27;s largest and likely most electric crowd of the season.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/27/21/nba-jazz-grizzlies-game-2-result">NBA: Jazz bounce back with rout of Grizzlies to even series</a></li></ul>Milwaukee has shown in this series it can win a close game and a blowout. The Bucks won Saturday&#x27;s opener 109-107 on Middleton&#x27;s closely contested jumper with 0.5 seconds left in overtime, and Milwaukee routed the Heat 132-98 in Monday&#x27;s shocking demolition.After getting beaten by the Heat in the franchises&#x27; only two playoff meetings -- in the first round in 2013 and in the second round last year -- the Bucks seem to be a more determined team this time around.&quot;We have trust in each other,&quot; Middleton said of his teammates.Antetokounmpo hasn&#x27;t been shy this series, putting up a total of 50 shots in the two games, making 22. He is also 1-for-10 on three-pointers and 12-for-20 on free throws.&quot;I&#x27;m going to be aggressive the whole series, make or miss,&quot; Antetokounmpo said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/27/21/nba-russell-westbrook-popcorn-incident">NBA: Russell Westbrook restrained after popcorn thrown on his head</a></li></ul>The Bucks have not only gained a 2-0 series lead, they have also flipped the pressure -- at least for now.Heat guard Goran Dragic admitted as much when he said this when Milwaukee was at home: &quot;The pressure was all on them. They (needed) to win at home.&quot;Now, of course, the onus is on the Heat, a franchise with championship lineage. After the 34-point thrashing Miami took on Monday, some in the Heat community are fearing a four-game sweep -- just one year after reaching the NBA Finals.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/26/21/nba-lakers-bounce-back-tie-series-against-suns">NBA: Lakers bounce back, tie series against Suns</a></li></ul>But Adebayo said &quot;pep talks&quot; are not necessary.&quot;We&#x27;re grown men,&quot; he said. &quot;We know what we&#x27;ve got to do.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/27/21/nba-knicks-hawks-game-2-result">NBA: Derrick Rose, Julius Randle help Knicks even series with Hawks</a></li></ul><div>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1649480" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

If Miami, down 0-2, is to win Game 3, Butler and Adebayo likely have to do more. Much more.

If Miami, down 0-2, is to win Game 3, Butler and Adebayo likely have to do more. Much more.