This game was won by Butler getting foul calls and on Markieff on that bad lob pass to AD that sailed out of bounds. Green, KCP and LeBron was open.
That last foul on Anthony Davis that put Jimmy Butler on the free throw line normally doesn't get called that late in a Finals game. There was a case for verticality. More importantly, Butler got five offensive rebounds. The Heat only had nine in the game, but it felt like roughly
infinity more. It was like 10:45 PM EST and I straight up yelled "GET A GODDAMN REBOUND FOR ****'S SAKE!" right out loud. Sorry, neighbors.
The Lakers also gave up two four-point plays. They also technically gave up a six-point play (three-point play off a flagrant foul then Duncan Robinson hit a three). Like how do you even manage that in a Finals game? Until the fourth quarter, every time the Lakers got within a couple points or even tied, they would do some dumb **** like that and give the Heat another cushion. Most teams aren't going to win if they fall behind by 11 points
multiple times a game. There were a lot of lapses on defense from a normally elite defensive team. The Lakers let the Heat dictate the pace of the game.
There's no part of me that thinks the Heat can manage three in a row barring a major injury to LeBron James or Anthony Davis (the re-aggravated bone bruise is not ideal, but the medical staff will shoot his foot full of Cortisone and/or the blood of Jesus Christ on Sunday if they have to). Jimmy Butler had to play almost the entire game for the Heat to win by three. Can he do that two more times in a row? He's excellent, but I'll believe it when I see it. The Lakers just have to get back to what got them to the Finals in the first place: shutting teams the **** down. And maybe someone other than James, Davis, and KCMVP showing up on offense.
The Lakers tend to play much, much harder after a loss so I'm hoping for a major bounce back game. It's almost a good thing. Like, y'all have to lose before you get your **** together? I guess. Hope we get #17 on Sunday.