The Nuggets cruised in the NBA Finals opener to put Miami in a hole, but the Heat remained steady during the two-day break that followed.
Game 4: Friday at Miami, 8:30 p.m.Game 7: June 18 at Denver, 8 p.m. Miami, it seemed, was doing everything it could to avoid dwelling on a Game 1 in which it shot poorly from outside, struggled to get to the basket and had few answers for Jokic’s triple-double exploits and Jamal Murray’s silky shooting — hence the Five Stairsteps’ soothing promise of better days ahead and walks “in the rays of a beautiful sun.
But trailing in a series is new territory for Miami, which is trying to become the first No. 8 seed to win the NBA title. Thanks to Game 1 victories over the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, the Heat was in control for much of its unexpected run to the Finals. Now, it must launch a comeback bid against the rolling Nuggets, who are 9-0 with an 11.9-point average margin of victory at home in the playoffs.Denver presents several new challenges for Miami.
The Heat’s hopes of knotting this series will rely heavily on its ability to use quality outside shooting to overcome the Nuggets’ size advantage. This postseason, Miami is 7-3 when it shoots better than 35 percent on three-pointers and 5-2 when it makes at least 15 three-pointers. In Game 1, the Heat shot 13 for 39 from deep and Martin, Max Strus and Duncan Robinson combined to shoot 2 for 23 from the field.“Shooters need clarity and a great deal of confidence,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Miami will return home for Wednesday’s Game 3 and Friday’s Game 4, but getting a split in Denver would be crucial to its upset bid. The Nuggets claimed a 2-0 series lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers before emphatically defeating all three to reach the Finals.
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