By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to close things out, but Jimmy Butler had different plans in Game 5 of the NBA finals.
Butler had 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, and the Heat watched Danny Green’s wide-open 3-pointer in the final seconds bounce off the rim on the way to beat Los Angeles 111-108.
“I was able to draw two defenders below the FT line and find one of our shooters for a wide-open three to win a championship”, said James after the game. “I trusted him… I know he wishes he could have it again. I wish I could make a better pass. You live with it.”
Game 6 is Sunday night with the Lakers leading 3-2, however, they missed the chance to win the title despite a big night from LeBron.
James had 40 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists for the Lakers. Anthony Davis scored 28 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 16.
On the other side, Duncan Robinson had 26 points for Miami, which used seven players. Kendrick Nunn had 14 points, Bam Adebayo 13, Tyler Herro 12, and Jae Crowder 11. The seventh player, Andre Iguodala, didn’t score.
However, Butler became the sixth player in NBA Finals history to have multiple triple-doubles in the same title series. Magic Johnson and James have both done it three times, while Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Draymond Green have done it once.
Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic (torn left plantar fascia) missed his fourth consecutive game for the Heat.