Butler fires 40, helps Heat beat Lakers in Game 3

Jimmy Butler helped Miami avoid falling to a deep hole as he buoyed the Heat to a 115-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals on Monday, October 5.

Butler carried most of the loads for the Heat, who finally logged their first win in the Finals after losing in the first two games.

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The shifty 6-foot-7 forward finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and two blocks, doing it all for a Miami squad that played without injured starters Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic.

Butler was unstoppable on the floor and made 14 of his 20 attempts while also going 12-for-14 from the free throw line.

Kelly Olynyk was productive anew coming off the bench as he tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Rookie Tyler Herro also scored 17 points for the Heat, while Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder added 13 and 12 markers, respectively.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists but committed eight of LA’s 19 turnovers.

After a superb outing in the first two games, Anthony Davis struggled heavily in Game 3 and settled for just 15 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.

Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris added 19 points for the Lakers.       

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