In the running game, the Miami Heat started Sunday hot, and were uneventful, but then battled their way to a come-from-behind 111-108 win, stunning the host Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
So much for a series sweep some league insiders were expecting, er, Chuck?
Charles Barkley said The Heat didn’t run for them…
“The Nuggets will win again, more convincingly!”
Guaranteed 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/trgWWrerHB
– NBA TV (NBATV) June 4, 2023
Jamal Murray also prepared…
Feeling good beauty! #NBAF Finals #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/RsJh4QZlcE
– Not since wilted… (whiteroomskier) June 5, 2023
The Heat, after putting up a disappointing performance in Game 1, changed their lineup in search of a spark…
Kevin Love will replace Caleb Martin in the starting lineup in Game 2 of the NBA Finals versus the Nuggets, each @employee.
Love has received a DNP-CD in the Heat’s last 3 games. pic.twitter.com/anw8jUBmEd
– ClutchPoints (ClutchPointsApp) June 4, 2023
To make it a series, Draymond Green gave The Heat some sound advice…
“The Heat is going to have to go to Jimmy [Butler] On Jamal Murray and Bam [Adebayo] on [Nikola Jokic]… They will have to switch that choice.”
Draymond Green On the defensive tweaks, the Heat needs to make game a 2👀
(via @employee)pic.twitter.com/iMgEAPf5Co
– ClutchPoints (ClutchPointsApp) June 4, 2023
It started getting hot…
Max puts us on the board first from deep 👌
Game 2 is underway on ABC 📺 pic.twitter.com/2efqB7KErg
– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 5, 2023
And he jumped out to an early lead with a series of long-range jumpers…
Strus for three 💦
His third triple in the first quarter!
Thermal lead in Q1 | Game 2 on ABC pic.twitter.com/xX6Ji0Tcnw
– The NBA June 5, 2023
Then things started to change in the second quarter…
AG block 🚫
Murray DIME to Green 🥽The Nuggets took an early Q2 lead on ABC! pic.twitter.com/ttyZlg8Fxc
– The NBA June 5, 2023
Nuggets, for a while, made Chuck look smart…
This Nuggets team is so much fun to watch# The NBA #NBAF Finals pic.twitter.com/7VjVa5UpdO
– periodic report (thaleaguereport) June 5, 2023
The nuggets looked like they were going to split neatly…
Jamal Murray, wow 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#bring it inside pic.twitter.com/LyWNTKYNad
– Airpal Brazil | NBA (BrasilAirball) June 5, 2023
Then things started to change again in the third quarter…
bam.
Tough finish.You don’t want to miss the second half of Heat/Nuggets 2 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/7taHfqO66G
– The NBA June 5, 2023
But only briefly when Nikola Jokic helped the Nuggets regain control, scoring 18 third-period points via a variety of moves…
Gokek spins and gets the bucket!!
He reached 23 ppg as Denver took a 5-minute lead with 3 minutes left in the third quarter!
Game 2 LIVE on ABC pic.twitter.com/VyYYwp9qI8
– The NBA June 5, 2023
Jokic continues to set new standards…
Nikola Jokic continues to make history 👏 pic.twitter.com/n7Cl1GuK36
– The NBA June 5, 2023
Then, things started to change again in the fourth quarter, thanks to “Playoff Jimmy”…
PLAYOFF JIMMY 🔥
Miami now leads by 5 with 5:30 to play in Game 2 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/z9ZqaYklxA
– The NBA June 5, 2023
Nuggets fans made it available, but the Heat was waving the rally towels…
Let’s wave the rally towels tonight, Nuggets Nation ⚒ pic.twitter.com/KKA1s9YZhB
– Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 4, 2023
The Heat has been set on fire by some of their nameless players…
Discredited Miami Heat players pic.twitter.com/lT406gWuVw
– Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) June 5, 2023
Duncan Robinson lost his spot in the Heat’s regular season rotation, but showed his old Michigan shooting touch…
Great achievement by DUNCAN ROBINSON!
Heat by 3, 9:44 to go to ABC 🗣 pic.twitter.com/vOvUXPhnYB
– The NBA June 5, 2023
He’s called Jimmy Buckets for a reason…
Jimmy Buckets.
f- 1 float.Game 2 was a wild ride as Miami started the fourth quarter with a 25-10 run on ABC! They advance by 8 🍿 pic.twitter.com/VUFA1j5GHF
– The NBA June 5, 2023
On offense and defense, Jimmy Butler made a difference…
Jimmy’s defense of this ultimate takeover 😤
Miami battle their way to victory and tie the series with a Game 2 win on the road!
Game Three: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/llCT65CKZP
– The NBA June 5, 2023
So much for ensuring chuck…
Final score for game 2
Mia: 111
The: 108The Heat evened the series at 1-1! pic.twitter.com/jwL93sK2Yd
– The NBA June 5, 2023
To stay in the series, the Heat will need to produce more home runs Wednesday…
Back to MIAMI 🗣
the #NBAF Finals Presented by YouTubeTV 1-1!
Game Three: Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/PFcNT8xOpN
– The NBA June 5, 2023