The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat combined to make NBA history Monday night by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively.
Despite two-time MVP returning Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 4, the Bucks stifled a late double-digit lead on the road, as Jimmy Butler nuclearized in a legendary performance, losing a career-high 56 points.
Game 5 is set Wednesday night in Milwaukee and a possible sixth game will be on Friday in Miami.
The Heat aspires to become just that VI The No. 8 seed since the postseason field expanded to 16 teams to knock out the No. 1 seed and the first since the Philadelphia 76ers did the Chicago Bulls in 2012. If Miami can eliminate Milwaukee in Game 5, they’ll be able to become the first No. 8 seed in the game. History holds the No. 1 seed with just one series win.
Behind the heroics of LeBron James, the seventh-seeded Lakers went up 3-1 in their best-of-seven series against the second-seeded Grizzlies with a win in overtime Monday night.
Game 5 will be on Wednesday night in Memphis with a possible Game 6 on Friday in Los Angeles.
The Bucks and Grizzlies face a dangerous uphill battle to overcome their inability. NBA teams have come back from 3-1 holes only 13 times in league history (nine times since 1984), with the most recent two happening in 2020, with the Denver Nuggets achieving the feat in back-to-back series against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.