Miami finds its range in Game 2, hands Denver first home playoff loss

Miami finds its range in Game 2, hands Denver first home playoff loss

Heat draws even with Nuggets at a game apiece

by BEN GOLLIVER

5 Jun 2023 - The Washington Post

Denver — The Miami Heat made Michael Malone’s worst fears come true, pouring in open threepointers as the inattentive Denver Nuggets couldn’t find an answer.

In the aftermath of the Nuggets’ resounding win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Denver coach spent more time worrying about his team’s porous perimeter defense than he did celebrating. Sure enough, the Heat’s shooters, cold throughout the opener, came alive in a 111-108 victory in Game 2 on Sunday night at Ball Arena to even the series at a game apiece.

“If we would have won this game tonight, we would have stolen one,” Malone said. “The threepoint line was a huge concern coming in. Tonight, the Heat buried us.”

During a grinding contest in which the re-energized Heat jumped out to a hot start and finished strong, Miami’s shooters, who went cold in Game 1, roared back to life. The Heat shot 17 for 35 from deep and posted big runs at the beginning of the first and fourth quarters to deal the Nuggets their first home loss of the postseason.

Jimmy Butler served as the closer down the stretch, and Miami dodged a potential game-tying three-pointer by Jamal Murray just before the buzzer to seize home-court advantage as the series shifts to Miami for Wednesday’s Game 3.

“[Murray] got off a decently good look,” Butler said. “A high pick-and-roll isolation — I contested it, and I’m pretty glad he missed it.”

With two days to mull its flat showing in Game 1, Miami unveiled a new-look starting lineup that appeared determined to tamp down talk of a possible sweep. Max Strus, who shot 0 for 10 in the series opener, hit four three-pointers in the first quarter alone, and the Nuggets’ defense scrambled to keep up.

Denver built an early lead in Game 1 by repeatedly posting up 6-foot-8 forward Aaron Gordon on 6-5 Caleb Martin, and Miami’s undersized lineup lacked the length and girth to properly protect the paint. The Heat adjusted by deploying a bigger look, replacing Martin, who missed practice Saturday with an illness but played 22 minutes Sunday, with Kevin Love in the starting lineup.

The 6-8 Love, who started for much of Miami’s playoff run, hadn’t played since Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Pairing Love with center Bam Adebayo gave the Heat two big men to counter Nikola Jokic, who found the paint more crowded and wound up taking on more of the scoring burden as Denver’s typically balanced offense became one-dimensional in the second half.

“[Love] brings that veteran decorated playoff championship level experience, and you can’t really quantify what that means,” Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He’s been here, he can infuse a bunch of confidence in the guys, and he just has a timeliness of his winning plays. He’s a tough competitor, and he’s had some really important moments in this playoff run.”

Denver didn’t waver when Miami built an 11-point lead in the first quarter, instead answering with a 27-6 run powered by Murray and the bench. With Jokic resting early in the second quarter, his supporting cast got hot from the outside, and the Nuggets’ bench racked up 20 points by halftime. Denver’s lead was as large as 15 points.

The exchange of runs set up a grinding third quarter in which neither team could generate much offensive flow. Jokic responded with a series of post-ups and a brilliant slow-motion coast-to-coast finish, scoring 18 of his game-high 41 points in the quarter. However, the two-time MVP registered just four assists on the night, his lowest total of the postseason.

Miami held tough throughout Jokic’s onslaught, replying with a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter thanks to a Duncan Robinson flourish. Gabe Vincent finished with a team-high 23 points and hit four three-pointers — he was one of six Heat players to make at least two of them — and Butler added 21 points, saving his best for last with a corner three and a running jumper through contact to keep the Heat in front in the fourth quarter.

“We’re not worried about what anybody thinks,” Butler said. “We’re so focused in on what we do well and who we are as a group. I don’t think there’s a secret sauce. We move the ball, pass it to the open guy and play simple basketball.”

Miami won the final period 36-25, and a late Denver flurry erased most of a 12-point deficit but came up just short in the closing seconds.

After the Heat snapped the Nuggets’ seven-game winning streak, which dated from the conference semifinals, Malone ripped into his team.

“Let’s talk about effort,” he said. “We had guys who were out there either feeling sorry for themselves or thinking they can turn it on or off. This isn’t the preseason. This is the NBA Finals. This is perplexing and disappointing. Miami came in here and outworked us.”