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Anthony Davis # 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the first half against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 2, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista , Florida. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images / AFP
Anthony Davis and LeBron James propelled Los Angeles to a 124-114 victory over the Miami Heat that put the Lakers within two wins of their first NBA title since 2010.
The injury-stricken Heat held out as best they could, but 33 points from James and 32 from Davis were too much.
Davis, playing in his first NBA Finals, dominated a Heat defense that lost to the injured Bam Adebayo. He added 14 rebounds as the Lakers took a two-game lead in the NBA Finals to the best of seven in the league’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.
“He’s a great player,” James, who is playing in his 10th championship series, said of Davis, whose 14 rebounds included eight offensive rebounds. “He understands the position we are in.”
Davis made 14 of his first 15 shots from the field, finishing with 15 baskets in 20 attempts.
For the second straight game, James came close to a triple-double, adding nine assists and nine rebounds.
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 25 points and Kelly Olynyk added 24 from the bench as the Heat had to cope not only without Adebayo but star guard Goran Dragic, who was sidelined with a left foot injury.
The Heat will try to regain a victory in Game 3 on Sunday.
The Lakers are looking for a record-breaking 17th NBA title, but it’s their first since their last appearance in the Finals in 2010.
Miami is playing its sixth final in 15 years, having lifted the trophy in 2006, 2012 and 2013.
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