2023-06-05 04:53:00
After Denver’s victory in Game 1, much has been said and written about the imbalance of the NBA Finals. Well, to answer that, nothing better than the Miami Heat. The East winners responded brilliantly, used their zone defense phenomenally and equalized the final, handing the Nuggets their first home defeat of this playoff.
After a disastrous Game 1 with regard to outside shooting, the Heat soon showed what they were up to in the first period of Game 2. Max Struss, the shooter who had missed all ten shots, soon scored 12 points and four triples in the first 12 minutes.
The Heat even had an advantage in the tens, largely due to the failures of communication in the defensive rotation of the Nuggets. Despite this good start, the response from the West winners appeared in the 2nd period and largely because of the bench. Without Jokic on the field, the Nuggets fired on the scoreboard and even had an advantage of around 15/16 points, which was gradually reduced until the break.
The Heat always managed to stay in the game thanks to the outside pitch, even when, in the 3rd quarter, it looked like Denver was going to flee. The Miami team finished with 17 of 35 converted triples.
In the last period came the «secret weapon» of the Heat. For virtually all 12 minutes, coach Erik Spoelstra resorted to zone defense, even with Jokic on the field. Through impressive pressure and a very positive work denying the interior position to the Serbian post, the Miami team caused many problems for the Nuggets, later counting on moments of inspiration from Duncan Robinson (10 points to open the 4th period) and Jimmy Butler to take an 11-point lead in the final minutes.
Denver still reacted and, with the last possession of the ball, reduced the deficit to three points. In that last possession of the ball, without using the time-out they still had, the Oeste team was close to a tie, but Jamal Murray’s triple did not enter.
Despite the defeat, Jokic was extremely efficient again, scoring 41 points. That score turned out to be almost a victory for the Heat, as they managed to control the Serb’s passing game, something that decided Game 1. In this match, Jokic ended up with just four assists. Jimmy Butler finished with 21 points, the same as Bam Adebayo, who had one of the best performances in recent times, both in defense and attack, where he served as the basis for the best phases of the team.
The series now shifts to Miami for Games 3 and 4. The next game is scheduled for the wee hours of Wednesday through Thursday.
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