2023 NBA Finals: Miami Heat stun Denver Nuggets in 4th to even series at 1-1
The Heat fight back from eight points down in the final quarter to win Game 2 111-108 as Jamal Murray misses the last shot. Game 3 is on Wednesday in Miami.
Basketball
The Miami Heat erased an eight-point deficit to start the fourth quarter and survived a late rally from the Denver Nuggets to win Game 2 of the NBA Finals 111-108 on Sunday (4 June), evening the series 1-1.
After a cold shooting night in Game 1, the Heat rediscovered their touch and got contributions from all around led by Gabe Vincent’s 23 points and 21 points apiece from Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Nikola Jokic had another monster game for Denver with 41 points and 11 rebounds but the Nuggets didn’t get enough from elsewhere, losing at home for the first time this postseason.
Jamal Murray, who had 18 points and 10 assists, missed a stepback 3 at the buzzer that would have tied the game after Denver unraveled in the fourth quarter, despite being up 83-75 through three.
Michael Porter Jr. had just five points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Game 3 is on Wednesday.
“Our guys love to compete,” Miami coach Eric Spoelstra said. “They love to put themselves out there in those moments of truth.
“Fortunately we were able to make a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch, and we got a lot of contributions which you’re going to need against a team like this.”
Miami Heat come alive in 4Q
Kevin Love was back in the starting lineup for the Heat, who jumped out to a 21-10 lead in the first quarter. Love led Miami with 10 rebounds.
The Nuggets turned the tables on them in the second quarter, taking a 57-51 halftime lead and appeared to be in control going into the fourth.
But the Heat scrapped and clawed as they have done throughout these play-offs, starting the quarter with a 17-5 run and never looking back. Miami outscored Denver 36-25 in the fourth.
Duncan Robinson had 10 fourth-quarter points off the bench and Max Strus, who went 0-for-10 in Game 1, had 14 points off four 3s.
“We have a lot of experience in these close games,” said Vincent, who shot 8-of-12 from the floor. “When it comes to the last few minutes, we’re strangely comfortable.
Denver coach Michael Malone called out his team’s effort as the series shifts to Miami.
“Let’s talk about effort. I mean, this is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort,” Malone said. “That’s a huge concern of mine. And that to me is really, really perplexing, disappointing.
“There were so many breakdowns and they exploited all of those breakdowns and scored.”