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ORLANDO, Florida: Jimmy Butler turned the Miami Heat on their backs in the final minutes and refused to let his championship dreams die, beating LeBron James down the stretch of the NBA Finals.
Playing to the point of exhaustion and beyond, Butler scored 35 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, passed 11 assists and had five steals in Miami’s 111-108 victory on Friday (Oct. 9) over the Los Angeles Lakers, approaching 3- 2 in the best of seven series.
“His will to win is remarkable,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “To do that in over 47 minutes and accept the challenge at the other end, all the young players entering this league must study images of Jimmy Butler.”
Butler was 11 of 19 from the floor and 12 of 12 from the free throw line in 47 minutes, the most of the game, for a Miami team that used just seven players.
The weary playmaker collapsed onto a billboard beyond the end of the court before launching the free throws that put the Heat ahead with 16.8 seconds remaining.
“I put it all down with my guys,” Butler said. “And that’s what we’ll have to do the rest of the way. We have two more games to get.”
Butler traded scores with four-time NBA MVP James on six straight possessions in the final two minutes, taking Miami far enough to force a game six on Sunday.
“That’s what the team asked me to do. That’s what they need me to do,” Butler said. “I know I can do it. I have a great group of guys around me. That gives me a lot of confidence to go out and play.”
James admitted that Butler beat him down the stretch.
“That was back and forth, great play after great play,” James said. “That is the beauty of the game, to be able to compete at the highest level.
“You take advantage of those opportunities and you live in the moment. We were both trying to do that and we want our teams to come to victory. He was able to make one more play than me tonight and get the win.
The key play was a foul on Los Angeles’ Anthony Davis with 16.8 seconds left when Butler drove to the basket, James lamented.
“I thought I was chest to chest with Jimmy and the decision didn’t go our way. It was a tough decision,” James said. “He’s been near perfect at the free throw line this series.”
The Lakers played a physical game against Butler, trying in vain to drain his strength, but instead kindled the flames of their determination despite fatigue.
“We’re not going to back down,” Butler promised. “We are not going to shy away. We are going to go down and do what we do. We are not going to back down. We are not afraid of anyone.”
Butler believes not only in himself but also in his peers.
“I believe in my skill set and my talent,” Butler said. “So as long as we’re together and playing basketball the right way, no matter how they defend me, I’ll make the right play.”
“DEFINITIVE COMPETITOR”
Butler’s teammates have no doubt that he can handle a showdown against James or any other NBA rival, even after playing almost an entire game.
“He’s made for that,” Heat guard Kendrick Nunn said. “We are confident that we can lean on him and get the job done.”
There is no such thing as going to Butler too often.
“That’s our top player,” Heat forward Bam Adebayo said. “We have to go to him and keep producing and let him take over the show.”
Heat guard Duncan Robinson warned that Butler’s greatest weapon is his determination.
“He’s the top competitor,” Robinson said. “When you put him on this stage, he will do whatever he has to do to win. Bring him in, shoot from the outside, whatever it takes.
“For many of us, it’s just getting out of the way, took us home tonight.”
