EditorsNote: Robinson’s conversions were added in the 2nd graph; Add Harrell conversions & LeBron firing in the 3rd graph; Davis described it in the 4th graph
Kendrick Nunn scored 27 points and Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and eight rebounds, leading the Miami Heat to a 96-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers host Saturday in a replay of this season’s NBA Finals. this went.
Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Duncan Robinson shook in 11 points with 10 rebounds for the Heat, who have won six of nine.
Kyle Kuzma had 23 points and LeBron James (7-for-21 from the field) added 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who have dropped three of their last four contests. Montrezl Harrell hit 7 of 12 hits from the field to finish with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 11 points.
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder missed his second straight game due to NBA health and safety protocols, while All Davis Star forward Anthony Davis missed his fourth consecutive game while out with an Achilles tendon injury right.
Both teams had a problem in the fourth quarter. They came together for just 32 points. But two free throws by Butler with 12.4 seconds left were the difference.
Minutes earlier, a three-point play by Kuzma allowed the Lakers lead to cut the Heat to 94-92 with 1:28 left. After Robinson was called up for an offensive foul with an elbow against Caldwell-Pope with 25 seconds left, Wes Matthews made a mistake with a 3-point effort with 16.6 seconds left.
After Butler’s free throw gave the Heat a four-point advantage, Matthews turned a layup to cut the gap to two with 8.4 seconds left. But Alex Caruso, who failed to score in 20 minutes, lost a 3-point lead before the final horn.
A 14-4 run to open the third put the Lakers to a 66-63 edge after a 3-point lead by Matthews with 7:44 left in their quarter. However, Miami responded with a 13-0 raise for a 76-66 win after a pair of false shots by Butler with 3:05 left in the third.
But Los Angeles shook Miami’s lead to 81-77 in the third.
The heat, which led as much as 15 points in the first half, led 59-52 at the break.
–Field Media Level