The Miami Heat showed they weren’t ready to go home yet as they survived a thrilling finish to stay alive in the 2020 NBA Finals.
The Heat kept their title aspirations alive by edging out the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-108, in Game 5 of their best-of-seven title series on Saturday, October 10.
Embed from Getty ImagesJimmy Butler and Tyler Herro knocked down crucial free throws down the stretch as the Heat cut the series deficit to 2-3.
The Heat posted several double-digit leads but the Lakers kept coming back and wrested the lead in the fourth period.
The Lakers appeared on the verge of hoisting their 17th championship trophy when they took a 108-107 lead on a shotclock-beating putback by Anthony Davis with 21.8 seconds left.
In the next play, Butler was able to drive the lane and was fouled by Davis while going for a layup with 16.8 ticks to go.
Butler sank the two free throws that put the head in front by a solitary point.
The Lakers had the chance to retake the lead but Danny Green missed a wide open triple. Markief Morris collared the offensive rebound but threw an errant pass to Davis with 2.2 seconds left.
Herro made it a three-point game by dropping a pair of freebies and the Heat went on to escape after LeBron James missed a trifecta at the buzzer.
Butler led Miami with 35 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and one block.
Duncan Robinson backed Butler with 26 points, while Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, Herro and Jae Crowder also scored in twin digits for a combined 52 points.
James topped the Lakers with 43 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Davis, who was apparently hobbled by a foot injury, wound up with 28 points, 12 boards, three assists, three steals and three blocks.
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