Despite a massive game from Nikola Jokic, the Miami Heat evened the NBA Finals with a 111-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, led by Gabe Vincent’s 23 points, Jimmy Butler’s 21, and Bam Adebayo’s 21.
The Heat, led by Max Strus’s 14 points and Duncan Robinson’s 10, blew a huge early lead, fell by as many as 15, and then came back to win in the fourth. In the fourth quarter, Miami outscored Denver 36-25 to overcome an eight-point deficit.
They had to make some serious sacrifices to eliminate Denver’s resistance.
Jokic scored 41 points on 16 of 28 shooting from the field, and the Nuggets closed to within three points on his final field goal, a four-footer made with 36 seconds remaining. As a result, Denver decided not to commit a foul on Miami’s next possession. Butler shot and missed from deep, and Jamal Murray missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game.
“Our guys love to compete,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game. But, to put it bluntly, “they love to put themselves out there in those moments of truth.”
Spoelstra commended Vincent in particular. He’s one of a kind. Vincent, who went undrafted out of college but has been outstanding in the playoffs this year, “really is,” the coach added.
Denver’s Murray scored 18 points and dished out 10 assists, while Aaron Gordon scored 12 and Bruce Brown added 11. Jokic only had four assists, a substantial drop from his Game 1 total of 14.
Michael Malone, coach of the Nuggets, expressed disappointment in his team’s play after the game.
“We’re talking about effort in the NBA Finals,” he remarked. That is a major worry of mine. After Game 1, when I mentioned we didn’t play well, you probably thought I was making up some plot. This is the NBA Finals, not the preseason or the regular season. Miami came in and outdid us in the work department.
On Wednesday, in Miami, we’ll play Game 3. Up to that point, Denver’s postseason record stood at 11-0.
In the first quarter of Game 2, Strus, who shot 0 for 10 from deep in Game 1, made 4 of them. Then, with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter, Butler scored a jump shot to give Miami a 21-10 lead, matching the second-largest any opponent had built in Denver so far in these playoffs.
In an instant, it was completely gone.
The Nuggets turned a double-digit deficit into a double-digit lead over the following nine minutes, outscoring Miami 32-11 on an incredible three-point barrage.
Four different Nuggets players (Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, Jamal Murray, and Eric Gordon) made threes in 70 seconds early in the second quarter, giving Denver more points than Miami had in the previous nine minutes combined. Denver was up 44-32 before Murray scored five consecutive points to end the run. By halftime, the Heat had cut the deficit to 57-51, but any momentum Miami had gained in the opening minutes had long since evaporated.
The battle has officially begun. Not only did Miami Heat not let Denver pull away, but they also found a way to win in the final period.
FAQs
How did the Miami Heat secure victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets?
The Miami Heat clinched a thrilling victory with a strong finish, led by Gabe Vincent’s 23 points, Jimmy Butler’s 21, and Bam Adebayo’s 21.
What were the key factors that contributed to the Miami Heat’s win?
Despite a formidable performance by Nikola Jokic, the Heat overcame a significant early lead by the Nuggets, making crucial sacrifices and outscoring Denver in the fourth quarter.
How did the Miami Heat respond to the Nuggets’ comeback attempts in Game 2?
The Heat exhibited resilience and tenacity, refusing to let Denver pull away and ultimately securing the win in the final period. Coach Erik Spoelstra praised his team’s competitive spirit and their willingness to rise to the challenge.
