LOS Angeles Lakers moved two wins closer to coronation after a 124-114 triumph over shorthanded Miami Heat in Game 2 of their 2019-2020 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals on Friday night (Saturday in the Philippines).
LeBron James flirted with a near triple-double 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists while Anthony Davis chipped in double-double 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers.
Rajon Rondo drained timely outside conversions as he finished with 16 points while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma had 11 markers each for the Lakers, which could go for a 3-0 edge in Game 3 this morning, Philippine time.
Los Angeles surged to an early 22-14 advantage on baskets from Kuzma, Davis and Dwight Howard. It stood at 25-17 following a Rondo triple, but Miami clawed to within 23-29 after the first 12 minutes.
Miami kept the match close in the second period as it rallied to within 41-45 on a triple by Kendrick Nunn, but Los Angeles answered back behind James and Davis for a 68-51 advantage.
The Lakers kept the double-digit edge in the third period, but the Heat trimmed it to single digit before Rondo connected two triples while James added another outside hit for a 103-91 advantage.
The Heat had its last push at 99-108 midway in the fourth quarter, but consecutive inside baskets from James followed by outside shots from Rondo and Caldwell-Pope sealed the win for the Lakers.
Jimmy Butler tallied 25 points while Kelly Olynyk added 24 markers for the Heat, which missed the services of injured Goran Dragić and Bam Adebayo. Adebayo has made certain that he will play in the all-important Game 3.
BOX SCORE:
LOS ANGELES 124 – James 33, Davis 32, Rondo 16, Kuzma 11, Caldwell-Pope 11, Howard 6, Caruso 6, Morris 6, Green 3, Smith 0.
MIAMI 114 – Butler 25, Olynyk 24, Herro 17, Nunn 13, Crowder 12, Robinson 9, Leonard 7, Iguodala 7, Hill 0, Jones Jr 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 29-23; Q2, 68-54; Q3, 103-93; Q4, 124-114.
The NBA holds all matches of its 2019-2020 playoffs at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, United States./PN
