Jimmy Butler puts in a historic performance as Heat win Game 1 over the Celtics

By Issy Ronald, CNN

Updated 0957 GMT (1757 HKT) May 18, 2022

Jimmy Butler scored 27 points in the second half.

(CNN)Jimmy Butler poured in 41 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots — numbers never seen before in an NBA playoff game — as he led the Miami Heat to a 118-107 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

«MVP Jimmy did his thing. He put us on his back,» Heat guard Tyler Herro said after the game.Despite losing two of their starters — Marcus Smart and Al Horford — hours before the tip-off, the Celtics kicked off Game 1 strongly with a 7-0 run. In the first half, Boston led by as much as 13 and went into halftime 62-54 up with forward Jayson Tatum tying a career playoff-high in scoring for one half as he contributed 21 points. Then, the game turned on its head after halftime.Read MoreA minute into the third quarter with the Heat trailing the Celtics by a point, Gabe Vincent's three-point attempt bounced off the rim. Butler grabbed the offensive rebound and converted a layup, putting Miami ahead for just the second time in the game. Butler was 12-for-19 from the field on the night.In the third quarter alone, Butler himself outscored the entire Celtics squad 17-14 as Boston conceded eight turnovers and shot 2-for-15 from the field — its worst shooting percentage in any quarter over the last four seasons.«I continued to play basketball the right way: shoot the ball when I'm open, attack, hit the open guy,» Butler told reporters after the game. «Honestly, it was a team effort.»Although the Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter — outscoring the Heat over the 12 minutes and hauling themselves back within nine points with 7:35 left — the damage had