Game 2: Heat Fire Back 🔥

06/05/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Heat Get Hot in 4th, Survive Game of Runs & Jokic’s 41 Points for Series-Tying Game 2 Win (111-108)

We have a series! The Heat bounced back in Game 2 of the NBA Finals to beat the Nuggets in a back-and-forth game of runs on Sunday night in Denver. Miami jumped out to an early lead (10-2) before Denver took over and went on a 33-9 run. The Nuggets’ advantage ballooned to double digits in the third before the Heat struck fast to open the fourth quarter with an 18-2 spurt courtesy of Duncan Robinson’s 10-point stretch. Suddenly, the Heat were up double digits with a few minutes left, but it was Denver’s turn to come roaring back. The Nuggets got another 11-2 run down the stretch to pull within 3, and Jamal Murray’s game-tying 3 caught iron as time expired (111-108).

For the first time all postseason, the Nuggets surrendered a home game. It’s Miami’s mountain, and we’re all even heading back to Florida for Game 3.

Game 2: A Game of Runs

1Q: Miami (10-2)

1Q-2Q: Denver (33-9)

4Q: Miami (18-2)

4Q: Denver (11-2)

Home-Court Streak Snapped: Game 2 was the Nuggets’ first home loss of the playoffs and the first loss at Ball Arena since March 30 dating back to the regular season.

Heat-Check: Miami shot 48.6 percent from 3-point range (17-for-35) in Game 2. That’s a 15 percent increase from Game 1 where poor shooting plagued the Heat.

Game 1 Stat Leaders

N. Jokic (DEN): 41 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists

G. Vincent (MIA): 23 points

J. Butler (MIA): 21 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists

B. Adebayo (MIA): 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists

J. Murray (DEN): 18 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists

Watch: Heat Hold Off Nuggets in Game 2 (111-108)

NBA Finals Schedule

Gm 3: Nuggets at Heat (Wed. 8:30 pm ET) | Series Tied (1-1)

Sporting News: Nuggets Fall Flat in 4th as Heat Level Series 1-1

Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images