NBA Highlights - NBA Playoffs 2023 - Heat VS Nuggets
Box Score
Team | Field Goals | 3-Point FGs | Free Throws | Personal Fouls | Total Rebounds | Offensive Rebounds | Turn overs | Points Off Turnovers | Fast Break Points | Points in the Paints |
MIA | 38/78 48.7% | 17/35 48.6% | 18/20 90.0% | 22 | 31 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 5 | 34 |
DEN | 39/75 52.0% | 11/28 39.3% | 19/22 86.4% | 21 | 38 | 9 | 13 | 23 | 18 | 50 |
#22 Jimmy Butler 21 Pts, 9 Ast, 4 Reb
#2 Gabe Vincent 23 Pts, 3 Ast 0 Reb
Game Highlights
Game Report
Not only did the Celtics wear down the Nuggets, but the resilient Heat are also exerting pressure on them, as evident in Game 2.
In Denver, the sense of déjà vu was striking as the Miami Heat executed their perplexing zone defense, while their sharpshooters drained open 3-pointers and their bench players made impactful plays.
While the Celtics faced significant criticism in recent weeks for their late-game collapses against the Heat, they are not the only ones feeling the pressure after Game 2 of the NBA Finals. After Nikola Jokic propelled the Nuggets to an 8-point lead going into the fourth quarter, the Heat retaliated with a decisive 15-2 run, leaving Denver in their wake en route to a 111-108 victory at Ball Arena.
Despite being considered less formidable on paper compared to the Celtics and Nuggets, the Miami Heat have proven themselves as genuine championship contenders. Their Game 1 defeat against Boston, following an emotionally charged seven-game series, did not diminish their resolve.
The NBA highlights from Game 2 were impressive, the Heat displayed resilience by weathering a strong offensive surge from Denver in the second quarter, even with Nikola Jokic off the court, and managed to come back from a 15-point deficit. This team exhibits remarkable composure, maintaining their consistent style of play and refusing to lose their poise.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra remarked, "Irrespective of the head coach's perspective, our players have an immense passion for competing, particularly in the fourth quarter. They embrace the challenges that come with those decisive moments. Fortunately, we executed numerous crucial defensive plays in the closing moments, and we received significant contributions from various individuals, a vital factor when facing a formidable team like this."
Similar to their performance against the Celtics, the Heat once again utilized their exceptional 3-point shooting to overwhelm the Nuggets. They connected on 17 of their 35 attempts from beyond the arc, with Gabe Vincent and Max Strus combining for eight successful shots. Despite ranking in the bottom five for 3-point shooting during the regular season, Miami has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as an outstanding perimeter shooting team.
Maine native Duncan Robinson, who had a challenging five-minute stretch in the first half where he posted a minus-14 rating, rebounded in the final period. He contributed all 10 of his points during that time, including a resilient layup where he demonstrated his slender frame and flexed after drawing a foul.
"I surprised myself with my ability to execute that move," Robinson admitted. "It wasn't something I planned beforehand; it was a spontaneous decision in the heat of the moment. To be honest, opportunities to showcase that move are rare for me during the season, so when I do get a chance, I try to make the most of it. Personally, I believe I perform at my best when I'm enjoying the game and having fun. While I always strive to show respect, it's important to savor and enjoy being on this incredible stage as a player. It doesn't make any sense to reach this level and not appreciate it."
Meanwhile, Denver coach Mike Malone expressed his frustration with his team's subpar performance in Game 1, despite securing the victory. Regrettably, the Nuggets failed to significantly improve in Game 2. Although Nikola Jokic scored an impressive 41 points, showcasing an array of unorthodox moves that may resemble an older individual at Studio 54, those unconventional shots found success as they went through the hoop.
The problem lies in the lack of support Jokic received. Out of Denver's 51 points in the second half, Jokic accounted for 28 of them. The Heat effectively neutralized his teammates, including Jamal Murray, who struggled throughout the game and only managed to score 10 points until the last six minutes. By that point, his two late 3-pointers were not enough to make a significant impact.
At the buzzer, he was in need of one more shot, but Coach Malone chose not to call a timeout following a Denver rebound. Unfortunately, Murray missed the shot, and the Nuggets did not deserve the opportunity for such late-game dramatics. Their lackluster performance in the fourth quarter allowed Miami to seize control with their relentless play.
During the final period, the Heat displayed exceptional shooting accuracy, converting 68.8 percent of their attempts. Their zone defense disrupted the Nuggets' offensive flow, causing them to become passive and overly reliant on Jokic to create scoring opportunities. The Celtics' coach, Joe Mazzulla, faced criticism for his team's struggles against the zone defense, but it is a challenging scheme to decipher, particularly when shooters lack confidence.
Jokic stood out as the lone Nugget who found offensive rhythm, while the Miami starters, including Jokic's counterpart, inflicted significant damage. Four out of five Miami starters had a plus-minus rating of at least plus-14. Although Jimmy Butler struggled offensively, he made a timely impact with a crucial 3-pointer that extended the Heat's lead to six points in the fourth quarter.
Malone, known for his candidness, didn't hold back in expressing his frustration with his team's lack of effort. It seems that, like the Celtics, other teams are also struggling with maintaining their intensity when facing the Heat. Malone was displeased with the energy and casual approach displayed by his team in the early minutes of the game, leading to the loss of their home-court advantage.
The issue of effort was a significant concern for Malone, who didn't mince words. He emphasized the importance of giving maximum effort, particularly in the NBA Finals. Malone recalled his previous comments after Game 1, where he expressed disappointment in his team's performance. He criticized certain players who seemed to be wallowing in self-pity after missed shots or assuming they could switch their level of play on and off. He stressed that this stage of the competition is not comparable to the preseason or regular season, making their lack of urgency all the more perplexing and disappointing to him.
The Nuggets found themselves baffled by the relentless style of play exhibited by the Miami Heat, joining a growing list of teams facing this challenge. They made uncharacteristic mistakes and lacked the required sharpness in crucial moments. Aware of the upcoming games at Kaseya Center and the potential return of Tyler Herro, the starting shooting guard, Coach Malone called out his team, realizing that Miami has gained control of the series.
The series has become truly competitive.
Malone openly challenged his team during his post-game comments, urging them to analyze the reasons behind their loss, to which they acknowledged the answer. He emphasized that Miami had simply outworked them, resulting in their least disciplined performance throughout the 16 or 17 playoff games they have played so far. The Nuggets experienced numerous breakdowns, allowing Miami to exploit each one and score points. To regain control of the series and reclaim home-court advantage, the Nuggets must exceed Miami's level of effort, which they failed to do in this game. Moreover, maintaining a high level of discipline is crucial according to Malone, who stressed the importance of outworking Miami and displaying impeccable discipline to achieve their desired outcome.
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