Lakers Look to Capture Title in Game 6
The Los Angeles Lakers face the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Orlando on Sunday.
The Lakers lead the series, 3-2.
The Heat (2-3) have been more than impressive in this unlikely postseason run and Game 5 was yet another indication of how they got to this point. Many people counted them out in a devastating 3-1 hole but Jimmy Butler and the Heat showed up big time in that 111-108 victory on Friday. Butler is the guy who really stepped up, recording his second triple-double in his last three games. He's actually averaging 30.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 2.5 steals across his last four games in total. That's probably the best stretch of his career and it couldn't come on a bigger stage. It's scary to think that he has to perform like that for Miami to even stay competitive in this series and one has to wonder just how long it will last. In any case, he's made a ton of fans with this run and is surely gaining the respect of anyone who doubted him before.
The Lakers (3-2) had three chances to capture an NBA title and it's now down to just two. What's really frustrating about that Game 5 defeat is the fact that LeBron James went off. He provided 40 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals on 15-of-21 from the field in that loss and there are not many times in his career where he's lost with statistics like those. What really hurt them in that loss was their bench, combining for just 14 points on 5-of-22 shooting. That obviously won't get it done but at least the Lakers have two more chances to get things right. If they are able to prevail here, it will mark James' fourth title and the first for Anthony Davis.
If Miami prevails in this Game 6, Game 7 will be played on Tuesday to determine an NBA Champion.
The Lakers lead the series, 3-2.
The Heat (2-3) have been more than impressive in this unlikely postseason run and Game 5 was yet another indication of how they got to this point. Many people counted them out in a devastating 3-1 hole but Jimmy Butler and the Heat showed up big time in that 111-108 victory on Friday. Butler is the guy who really stepped up, recording his second triple-double in his last three games. He's actually averaging 30.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 2.5 steals across his last four games in total. That's probably the best stretch of his career and it couldn't come on a bigger stage. It's scary to think that he has to perform like that for Miami to even stay competitive in this series and one has to wonder just how long it will last. In any case, he's made a ton of fans with this run and is surely gaining the respect of anyone who doubted him before.
The Lakers (3-2) had three chances to capture an NBA title and it's now down to just two. What's really frustrating about that Game 5 defeat is the fact that LeBron James went off. He provided 40 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals on 15-of-21 from the field in that loss and there are not many times in his career where he's lost with statistics like those. What really hurt them in that loss was their bench, combining for just 14 points on 5-of-22 shooting. That obviously won't get it done but at least the Lakers have two more chances to get things right. If they are able to prevail here, it will mark James' fourth title and the first for Anthony Davis.
If Miami prevails in this Game 6, Game 7 will be played on Tuesday to determine an NBA Champion.