Heat rally for Game 2 win over Nuggets to even series, spoil Nikola Jokic’s 41 points

DENVER — Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and the Miami Heat evened up the NBA Finals by overcoming a monster effort from Nikola Jokic to beat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 on Sunday night. 

Max Strus scored 14 and Duncan Robinson had 10 for the Heat, who had a big early lead, then got down by as many as 15 before reclaiming the lead in the fourth.

Miami outscored Denver 36-25 in the final period, erasing an eight-point deficit going into the final frame. 


Jimmy Butler drives to the rims against Nikola Jokic during the Heat's Game 2 win over the Nuggets on June 4.
Jimmy Butler drives to the rims against Nikola Jokic during the Heat’s Game 2 win over the Nuggets on June 4.
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Nikola Jokic finished with 41 points in the Nuggets' Game 2 loss to the Heat on June 4.
Nikola Jokic finished with 41 points in the Nuggets’ Game 2 loss to the Heat on June 4.
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And even then, they had to dig deep to finish it off. 

Jokic scored 41 points and was 16 of 28 from the floor, the last of those shots a 4-footer with 36 seconds left to get the Nuggets within three. 

Denver elected not to foul on the ensuing Miami possession.

Butler missed a 3, and with a chance to tie, Jamal Murray missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. 


Caleb Martin scores during the Heat's Game 2 win over the Nuggets on June 4.
Caleb Martin scores during the Heat’s Game 2 win over the Nuggets on June 4.
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Murray had 18 points and 10 assists for Denver, while Aaron Gordon had 12 points and Bruce Brown scored 11. 

Game 3 is Wednesday in Miami. Denver had been 11-0 with a double-digit lead in the playoffs.

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