Miami won 111-108 Sunday in Denver to tie a win-all in the NBA playoff final. The Heat, who are seeking a 4th title, therefore regain the advantage of the floor before welcoming the Nuggets on Wednesday for match no3.
As their coach Erik Spoelstra had requested the day before – “take the shots and catch fire!” – Floridians managed to find the target, the same where they had sinned 3 evenings earlier. They made 17 of their 35 attempts at 3 points.
The Heat’s leading scorer with 23 points, Gabe Vincent led by example with a 4/6. Mike Strus, weighed down by a 0/9 in the 1st game, planted his first 4 banderillas in the 1st quarter before certainly missing the next 6 (14 points).
Miami, however, attended a demonstration of Nikola Jokic. Ultra-dominant and at the top of his game, the Serbian pivot of the Nuggets managed 41 points and 11 rebounds. But Miami started and finished very strong after surviving a fiery second quarter from Denver, which then counted up to 15 units ahead (50-35).
Whatever, the momentum was collective for the Heat, where Jimmy Butler also found colors (21 points, 9 assists) by taking more responsibility in the last quarter, after Bam Adebayo was once again exemplary ( 21 points, 9 rebounds).
A better defense
More aggression, more skill and better defense too, put Miami on the road to success. Because if the players of Spoelstra could not prevent Jokic from being overwhelming, they concentrated a lot of efforts to limit the impact of his teammates.
Jamal Murray has long borne the brunt of the Heat’s deterrent force, even if his 10 points in the “money time” (out of 18 in total, 10 assists) shook the Heat. Until his shot at the “buzzer” to try to snatch an extension which ultimately did not take place.
agencies/tai
2023-06-05 06:02:45
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