Lakers and Heat set the stage for high-stakes NBA Finals drama

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: Jimmy Butler # 22 of the Miami Heat defends LeBron James # 23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena on ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 9, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading or using this photograph, user accepts the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images / AFP

ORLANDO, USA – Survive or celebrate: The stakes are the same for the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers heading into Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday less than 48 hours after Miami’s riveting victory in Game 5.

Energy, adjustments and potential injuries, especially for Lakers superstar Anthony Davis, will be crucial as the Lakers attempt once again to secure the 17th NBA title in franchise history and the first since 2010. .

The champagne was on ice and the confetti machines were ready on the court to throw the Lakers purple and gold on Friday, but Jimmy Butler and the Heat put the celebrations on hold with a valiant 111-108 win in the quarantine bubble. of the NBA in Orlando.

They withstood a 40-point performance by LeBron James to do so, and are still 3-2 behind in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s win or win for us,” Butler said. “We like it this way.”

Despite Butler’s 35-point triple-double, not to mention 26 points from undrafted second-year forward Duncan Robinson that included seven 3-pointers, the Lakers had a chance to seal a late win.

With seven seconds remaining, James, surrounded by Miami defenders under the basket, kicked the ball into a wide open Danny Green at the top of the arc.

Green’s three-point attempt hit the rim and the rebound fell on Lakers backup Markieff Morris, who quickly threw the ball.

“It’s a tough loss,” admitted Lakers coach Frank Vogel, who thought two bad decisions put Butler on the foul line for crucial final free throws, calling him “unfortunate in a game of this magnitude.” .

But Vogel was confident that there would be no emotional disappointment in Game 6.

“Our group is doing well,” he said, although physical recovery could be a bigger problem.

Davis vowed he would be “fine” for Game 6 after aggravating a sore right heel late in the first quarter on Friday, his obvious pain sending a chill through the Lakers faithful.

He remained in the game, scoring 28 points and throwing 12 rebounds on three blocked shots, but his mobility was clearly affected in the end.

“He’s a warrior,” James said, adding that even a limited Davis was a valuable asset.

“Just because he’s out there, limping, it gives me and our team a lot more confidence.”

However, James and Davis need more help from their supporting cast, and the Lakers know it. James now has 10 playoff losses in which he has scored 40 points, second behind Michael Jordan’s 12.

“He steps up in the big moments,” Lakers guard Alex Caruso said of James. “It’s a shame we couldn’t make one more play for him, defensively or offensively, to help him, because he was giving everything.”

The Heat, meanwhile, are only gaining confidence. Butler is the driving force, but even with shooting guard Goran Dragic, who scored a lot of points, offside with a torn plantar fascia in game one, Butler is not a one-man gang.

All five Heat starters scored at least 11 points Friday and Kendrick Nunn added 14 from the bench.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra compared Robinson, Nunn and rookie Tyler Herro to “sticks of dynamite.”

“They can explode at any moment,” he said.

Can Lakers’ title aspirations soar through the roof? It will be hard.

Only one team has come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals: the Cleveland Cavaliers led by James in 2016.

“I think the next game will be even more difficult for us,” Butler said. “But I like our opportunities.”

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