The Heat showed early they weren't going to roll over. They jumped on the Lakers early. Everyone knew the Lakers would come back. And they did.
Miami held a precarious three point lead heading into the first. But the Heat wouldn't give in. The expended the lead once again. But the Lakers came back. The lead was just four heading into the half.
Miami needed two changes from Game 2 to have a shot to win in Game 3. With Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic out again, the Heat needed the Lakers to be a bit disinterested. And they needed Jimmy Butler to carry them even more than in Game 2. Both happened.
Miami raced out to start the third quarter. The took a 14 point lead. It still seemed obvious that the Lakers would wake up and come back. They did. Miami took a five point lead into the fourth. L.A. tied the game in the fourth.
But Miami kept answering the Lakers' runs. Butler ended with 40 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. He shot 70% from the field and 12 for 14 from the line. Notably, he didn't shoot a three.
Kelly Olynyk added 17 points and 7 rebounds. No one else played particularly well. Tyler Herro scored 17, Duncan Robinson had 13, and Jae Crowder added 12, but none of them shot well at all. Andre Iguodala had a rare poor game.
But the Lakers were unfocused. The turned the ball over too much. Anthony Davis was saddled with foul trouble. LeBron scored 25 points and was two assists from a triple double, but he was two turnovers from double figures as well. Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris each had 19 points. But Davis only scored 15 and only grabbed 5 rebounds. He committed 5 turnovers. No other Lakers could carry the load.
Miami pulled out late and won 115-104 to tighten the series.
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