Series tied: Heat roar back in the 4th quarter, beat Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 of NBA Finals

The Miami Heat made a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter to defeat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, tying the series. Gabe Vincent led the Heat with 23 points, while Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo contributed 21 points each. Despite an outstanding performance from Nikola Jokic, who scored 41 points for the Nuggets, Miami managed to outscore Denver in the final period, erasing an eight-point deficit. The Nuggets had a chance to tie the game, but Jamal Murray missed a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Murray finished the game with 18 points and 10 assists, while Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

The victory for Miami came after an impressive early lead, followed by a significant deficit, and ultimately a resilient effort in the fourth quarter. Max Strus, who struggled in Game 1, redeemed himself by scoring 14 points, including four three-pointers in the first quarter. However, Denver responded with a 32-11 run, fueled by a barrage of three-pointers, turning the game in their favor. Despite the Heat closing the gap by halftime, the momentum had shifted.

Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday in Miami. Denver, previously undefeated with a double-digit lead in the playoffs, will look to regain their winning form. The Heat made a lineup change in Game 2, with Kevin Love returning to the starting five and Caleb Martin coming off the bench. This victory marked the 13th win for the Heat in this year’s playoffs, breaking the record for the most wins by a No. 8 seed, previously held by the 1999 New York Knicks.

In other news, Heat guard Tyler Herro, who has been recovering from a broken hand, participated in 2-on-2 practice but remained sidelined for Game 2. His status for Game 3 is uncertain. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned that negotiations for the next media rights deal will be a priority after the ratification of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Expansion talks will follow the media deal negotiations, as the NBA looks to continue growing and potentially add franchises in the future.