Defeating the Los Angeles Lakers isn't an easy proposition under perfect circumstances. The Miami Heat entered Game 2 minus two key players, Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo.
The game wen t back-and-forth at the outset, proving the Heat would not give in, But the Lakers took a first quarter lead and led the rest of the way. Jimmy Butler's effort was valiant. He scored 25 points, dished 13 assists, and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Butler had some help. Tyler Herro replaced Dragic and scored 17. Meyers Leonard replaced Adebayo and 7 in 9 minutes. Kelly Olynyk poured in 24 and added 9 rebounds. Kendrick Nunn had 13 and Jae Crowder scored 12. The Heat played well; they just didn't have enough talent for it to matter.
The Lakers went into halftime with a comfortable 14 point lead. In the NBA, a 14-point lead can evaporate in a blink, but the Lakers' lead seemed secure. That lead ballooned to 18 before Miami cut it to single digits in the fourth, briefly threatening.
L.A. was simply too talented. Anthony Davis scored 32 points on 15 for 20 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds. LeBron James scored a game-high 33 points while missing a triple double by one rebound and an assist. Rajon Rondo added 16 points and 10 assists. Kyle Kuzma added 11 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a second straight game scoring in double figures on poor shooting.
The Lakers won 124-114 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Miami played as well as they could and wasn't really a serious challenger. The only thing that can stop the Lakers in this series is boredom.
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