The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat, 102-96, in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night in Orlando. The Lakers lead the series, 3-1.

The Lakers (3-1) came into Tuesday's contest knowing they were one loss away from giving the Heat (1-3) legitimate hope in the series and looking to make sure they didn't allow Jimmy Butler to be the catalyst for Miami in a second straight contest. They were also aware coach Erik Spoelstra's squad was getting some much-needed reinforcement in the form of Bam Adebayo, who was making his return from a neck injury. Los Angeles did manage to get off on the right foot with a 27-22 lead through one, but the Heat had shaved three points from its deficit by intermission. The second half would be just as competitive, with some clutch three-point shooting from Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and even Jae Crowder helping keep L.A. from separating too much. Ultimately, however, it was a pair of buckets from the Lakers' Rajon Rondo and Anthony Davis -- the latter a 28-foot trey with 39.5 seconds left -- that proved to be the knockout blows.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 28 points and added 12 rebounds, eight assists and one steal. Davis finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope provided 15 points, five assists and three rebounds. Danny Green supplied 10 points, two rebounds, two steals and one assist. Markieff Morris and Kyle Kuzma posted nine points apiece off the bench.

Butler paced the Heat with 22 points, supplementing them with 10 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and one block. Herro registered 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal. Robinson poured in 17 points, while Adebayo totaled 15 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal.

The two teams get an extra day off before reconvening for Game 5 in Orlando on Friday night.