NBA playoffs: Jimmy Butler exp...

Jimmy Buckets is brought to life.

The Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler put on a scorching 56-point performance on Monday to lead a remarkable comeback victory over the Milwaukee Bucks and put the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in danger of going home.

He got the game started with a 22-point first quarter, which featured a Heat scoring streak of 20 consecutive. He finished with a 21-point fourth quarter, helping Miami come back from a 12-point deficit to defeat the Pacers 119-114.

The victory gave the eighth-seeded Heat a 3-1 series advantage against the Bucks, who ended the regular season with the best record in the NBA. They achieved victory in Giannis Antetokounmpo's first game back after a back contusion that kept him off the court for more than two games.

Butler dunks on, bests Giannis in scorching 1st quarter

As the Bucks built a 10-3 lead, Antetokounmpo set the tone early by scoring seven of Milwaukee's first 10 points. Butler, though, retorted forcefully. Midway through the first quarter, with the Heat down 17-8, the six-time All-Star went up against Antetokounmpo straight and dunks on the five-time member of the All-Defensive Team.

Butler scored 20 straight Heat points after the slam dunk, and he closed the opening period with 22 of Miami's 28 points on 9 of 10 shooting from the field, including two 3-pointers made.

Milwaukee maintained control for most of the game

But the Heat, who had the 25th-best offensive rating in the league, were playing without Victor Oladipo and Tyler Herro, their second-leading scorer. They had trouble supporting their six-time All-Star against the fourth-ranked defense in the league.

Despite Butler's heroics, the Bucks lead by five after the first quarter. They went into the break with a 57-50 advantage. With two points in the second, Butler slowed down. Bam Adebayo, a two-time All-Star center, scored just two points during the first half on 1-of-4 shooting from the field. By halftime, only six Heat players had scored.

After three quarters, Milwaukee increased their advantage to 89-78 and looked to be cruising to a crucial victory that would square the series at 2-2. Butler, however, had other plans.

Butler returns from bench for heroic 4th quarter

Butler sat out the first few minutes of the fourth quarter to rest up. With 8:11 left in the game and Milwaukee leading 98-87, he returned. He would tally 21 of his 56 points from that point on.

The Bucks held a 101-89 advantage with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter and increased their lead to as many as 12. But the Heat countered with 13 consecutive points, using pressure defense to turn Bucks misses and turnovers into transition attack.

During the run, Butler's teammates joined in the fun. Butler's transition jumper resulted off a steal by Duncan Robinson. Jrue Holiday was blocked by Kyle Lowry, which resulted in Caleb Martin free throws on the opposite end. 

Butler makes mark on Heat, NBA history

The last phrase of Butler's speech will go down in history. He had 56 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in the end. He made 19 of his 28 field goal attempts, 3 of his 8 3-point attempts, and 15 of his 18 foul shots. His 56 points are the most ever in a Heat playoff game. It wasn't done by LeBron James. Wade didn't commit the crime. It wasn't Shaquille O'Neal who did it.

The score ties Charles Barkley for the fourth-highest single-game scoring performance in playoff history, behind Donovan Mitchell (57), Michael Jordan (63), and Elgin Baylor (61).

As his teammates upped their games in the crucial late run, Adebayo (15 points, 8 rebounds), Martin (12 points, 9 rebounds), and Gabe Vincent (10 points, 8 assists) joined Butler with double-digit performances. But make no mistake, they all played just supporting roles.