Jimmy Butler's triple-double, Lakers' sloppiness lifts Heat in Game 3
Miami got a game back from Los Angeles with the victory
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jimmy Butler said the Los Angeles Lakers are “in trouble” during the Miami Heat’s Game 3 victory Sunday night. He might be right.
Butler finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists to lift the Heat to a 115-104 victory and bring the Lakers’ series lead to 2-1 in the Finals.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Miami needed all 45 minutes of Butler’s play to get the victory as they were without Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic for the second straight night due to injuries. Butler was 14-for-20 from the field and 12-for-14 at the free-throw line.
Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler (22) and Los Angeles Lakers' Rajon Rondo (9) laugh during the second half in Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Butler’s supporting cast came through as well. Tyler Herro finished with 17 points, as did Kelly Olynyk. Duncan Robinson had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in the game. He was also plus-27.
The Lakers got into trouble real early.
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Anthony Davis, who finished with 15 points, got into foul trouble early and it helped the Heat put the Lakers into a big hole early in the first quarter.
LeBron James scored 25 points and the Lakers got help from Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris, who both scored 19 points off the bench. But it was the sloppiness of the Lakers that doomed them.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) looks to pass the ball against Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler (22) during the first half in Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles committed 20 turnovers in the game, which resulted in 17 Heat points. Miami also had 13 turnovers, which resulted in 21 Lakers points. Miami also dominated the paint, which was something the Lakers had done in the previous game. Miami outscored them 52-34 inside the painted area.
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Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.