All easy for the Los Angeles team in the debut challenge of the NBA Finals: Miami lasts less than 10 minutes, then we think LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the baskets from the arc to wipe out the Heat from the field – battered by injuries and forced to give up Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo in the second half
ALL THE NBA FINALS ON SKY SPORT: THE CALENDAR
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Los Angeles Lakers-Miami Heat 116-98
It lasts only two quarter-finals of the NBA Finals, just enough time for the Lakers to take the measures to the Heat starting strong, they go up to +13 in just eight minutes (23-10 the score in favor of Miami) and then they are literally swept off the field by the experience of the Los Angeles team hitting repeatedly from the bow and relying on a giant Anthony Davis under the basket. The Lakers score 11 triples out of 17 attempts before the long interval, thus gaining 17 marginal lengths which later became 30 in the second half, when Goran Dragic did not return to the parquet – released following a light blow to the left foot by Rajon Rondo – and with Bam Adebayo who soon returned to the locker room due to a shoulder problem (and also an already sore wrist). Only Jimmy Butler remains on the court to fight, but the game totally loses its meaning and intensity in the last 20 minutes, when the yellow-violet shooting percentages get dirty and make the partial less heavy for Miami – who never really gets back in the running for victory. At the final siren are 34 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for Anthony Davis, to which are added LeBron James’ 25 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists (who searches in vain until the end for the triple double). On the other hand, the best scorer is Jimmy Butler with his 23 points, 18 off the bench for Kendrick Nunn – all arrived when the race was largely over.
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The story of the first half of the match
A first quarter started all in the name of the Miami Heat, unleashed in defense and capable in less than eight minutes to fly on +13: a 23-10 that did not knock down the Lakers who decided to remove Dwight Howard from the court and by lowering the quintet they managed to find the right formula to overwhelm the Florida team in the remaining 16 minutes of the first half. A partial 53-23 hard to digest for Miami, who collect an 11/17 from long distance that opens the doors to Anthony Davis near the iron. The result is merciless for the Heat, who remain behind by 17 at the long interval and who suffer above all from the inability to find the bottom of the retina. After scoring 25 points in the first 14 possessions, Coach Spoelstra’s guys only put 23 in the next 37. Too few to worry the Los Angeles team that comfortably takes the lead at the long interval, taking advantage of the positive impact from the bench of the various Rajon Rondo, Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma.
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The story of the second half of the match
The second half opens with a sigh of relief for Miami who find Jimmy Butler on the court, despite the bad ankle sprain suffered at the end of the second quarter. However, things get complicated for the Heat in a few minutes: Goran Dragic is unable to resume the match due to a problem with his left foot which worries the medical staff of the Florida team a lot. He arrives shortly after to keep him company in the locker room also Bam Adebayo due to a strained left shoulder, the worst news for Miami, which in the meantime also sinks to -30. At that point, coach Spoelstra is forced to “open the cages” and let players who would hardly have seen the field in another scoring situation leave the bench. The Lakers, however, at that point, strong of the advantage, dirty the percentages and coach Vogel is forced to keep both LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the court for a long time. Not a big problem for the two All-Stars who close the practice in the final and lead the Lakers to success 116-98.
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