NBA Finals: Miami’s fourth-quarter explosion leads to Game 2 win over Nuggets

The Miami Heat received the fourth-quarter surge they wanted to return again and beat the Denver Nuggets, 111-108, in Recreation 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night time. 

The Warmth went on a 17-4 run to start out the ultimate quarter, regaining the lead, however the Nuggets had been in a position to make use of an 11-2 run of their very own to get inside three factors of the Warmth with lower than 90 seconds to play. 

Nevertheless, the Warmth had been capable of fend off desperation mode, as Jimmy Butler closed out on a stepback Jamal Murray three-pointer that will’ve despatched the sport to extra time on the remaining buzzer. 

Murray’s shot was simply brief, hitting the entrance rim because the clock struck zero – simply as Miami wished it to. 

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Max Strus #31 of the Miami Warmth shoots a 3 level basket throughout Recreation 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Pictures)

Getting one recreation to go your manner on the highway is all the time a success in the playoffs, and one of many essential causes that got here to be was making the three ball. 

Miami, who leads all playoff groups in three-point share this postseason, struggled in Recreation 1 of the Finals, particularly from Max Strus and Gabe Vincent who beforehand thrived from past the arc.

Strus was a shocking 0-for-10 from the sector, together with 9 missed threes, in Recreation 1. However, because the saying goes, shooters shoot. 

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Strus hit 4 first-quarter threes to get Miami off to a scorching begin (they gained the quarter 26-23). He would miss his subsequent six makes an attempt from deep, however the Warmth wanted that manufacturing. 

Vincent was even higher, going 4-of-6 from three, and 8-of-12 general for a team-high 23 factors with three assists and two steals for the Warmth. 

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles towards Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Warmth in the course of the second quarter in Recreation Two of the 2023 NBA Finals. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures)

Butler got here in clutch within the fourth quarter – a typical prevalence lately – as he completed 7-for-19 for 21 factors with 9 assists and 4 rebounds. Bam Adebayo additionally contributed 21 factors of his personal on 8-of-14 from the sector, including an ideal 5-of-5 from the charity stripe.

As a group, the Warmth shot 48.6% from three, which is the recipe for achievement when attempting to beat the Nuggets. 

On Denver’s finish, Nikola Jokic didn’t have a triple-double like he did in Recreation 1, however he did drop 41 factors on 16-for-28 to guide the sport in that class. He had 11 rebounds to make it a double-double, however solely 4 assists as he took the scoring into his personal palms Sunday night time.

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It was odd to see Murray with simply 18 factors contemplating how he’s been performing in these playoffs – he’s averaged 27 factors an evening since coming into Recreation 2. He had 18 factors on 7-of-15 from the sector (3-of-8 from three). 

Aaron Gordon offered 12 factors and 7 rebounds, whereas Bruce Brown got here off the bench with 11 factors on 4-of-9 capturing. 

With this loss, Denver conceded their first playoff recreation at house. 

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Warmth drives to the basket towards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #5 of the Denver Nuggets in the course of the second quarter in Recreation Two of the 2023 NBA Finals. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Pictures)

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Recreation 3 will happen in Miami on Wednesday with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m.