Of all the statements the Miami Heat have made this postseason, their unwillingness to go down easily might be the biggest one.
Ask any team that has run into Miami this postseason, and certainly they’d agree that closing out the Heat has been an exceptionally difficult task. The Nuggets got to witness that firsthand Sunday in Game 2.
The Heat went into the fourth quarter down eight. They proceeded to take outright control of the game for the first three minutes of the period thanks to a 16-2 run, and they ultimately won 111-108.
In that fourth quarter, the Heat showed off everything they do well. Jimmy Butler, of course, was doing it all, while Duncan Robinson and Gabriel Vincent hit timely shots. Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry knocked down key free throws, and the Heat as a unit were strong enough defensively.
NBA Hall of Famer and former Heat guard Gary Payton said on Krantz’s Korner that if the Nuggets want to beat the Heat in the series, they’re going to have to blow them out.
“It’s one of those things where I look at it and say, if this team is in the game with about six or seven minutes, they’re only down six or seven points, they’re going to beat you," Payton said of his former team. "Because they’re really gutsy, and then they give the ball to Butler. And I like this team because they know who their superstar is. …
“This team is very dangerous when they can keep you where they want you, they lull you to sleep and then they keep you right where they’re at. To beat this team, you've got to blow them out. You’ve got to beat them by 30, because if you don’t beat them by 30 or more points, you’re gonna get beat.”
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