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NBA finals Game 2: Miami Heat 111-108 Denver Nuggets – as it happened

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 Updated 
Sun 4 Jun 2023 22.42 EDTFirst published on Sun 4 Jun 2023 19.00 EDT
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) loses control of the ball against Miami Heat guard Max Strus (bottom) and forward Kevin Love (right) in the early stages of Game 2 of the NBA finals
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) loses control of the ball against Miami Heat guard Max Strus (bottom) and forward Kevin Love (right) in the early stages of Game 2 of the NBA finals. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/USA Today Sports
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) loses control of the ball against Miami Heat guard Max Strus (bottom) and forward Kevin Love (right) in the early stages of Game 2 of the NBA finals. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/USA Today Sports

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Final thoughts

Alright, that was an exciting finish and I am shocked as anybody that my prediction of the Heat winning a one-possession game actually came true. This is an extremely unusual event unlikely to be repeated.

We will continue to cover the NBA finals here at the Guardian until its conclusion, which means at least three more games after this. This, however, will end today’s live coverage of Game 2. Thanks to everybody who read along with us these last few hours including the one brave soul who actually wrote it. Ciao!

You can read a full report from tonight’s game here:

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I said it over and over and over and over before the series. If the Heat shoot 50% from 3, they're going to win the series.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 5, 2023

48.6% but who’s counting? The Nuggets shot 39.3% and struggled in the fourth quarter and still had a chance to at least tie it at the buzzer. The Heat may be heading home for Wednesday’s Game 3 but they may have only made the Nuggets angry.

NBA Finals are tied 1-1!

The Miami Heat have done what no team has done this postseason: they have a stole game in Denver and we officially have a series!

Heat 111-108 Nuggets, FINAL

Butler misses a three-pointer. Can Denver tie… NO. Murray’s three-point attempt is no good!

The Heat have won in Denver, improbably!

Heat 111-108 Nuggets, 30.1, 4th quarter

Adebayo makes both free throws, but, BUT Jokić gets a friendly roll on the other end.

Heat 109-106 Nuggets, 48.1, 4th quarter

Murray with a three-pointer! Just a three-point Miami lead!

Adebayo gets fouled and goes to the line for free throws for Miami.

Heat 109-103 Nuggets, 1:26, 4th quarter

Butler hits a jumper. Brown hits a floater. Still a six-point game, but now the clock’s a factor.

Heat 107-101 Nuggets, 2:21, 4th quarter

Gordon and Murray with back-to-back three-pointers and that’s exactly what Denver needed. Just a six-point game!

Heat 107-95 Nuggets, 3:12, 4th quarter

Oh hey, there’s Caleb Martin. He also decided to get into the three party. The Nuggets need a big-time rally here.

Heat 104-95 Nuggets, 4:03, 4th quarter

Finally, a great defensive possession from Denver, as the Nuggets force an out-of-bounds turnover. On the other end, Jokić makes an easy basket, silky smooth, and Spoelstra calls a quick timeout to prevent the momentum from shifting.

Heat 104-93 Nuggets, 4:39, 4th quarter

Jokić is uncharacteristically sloppy here, throwing the ball out of bounds. On the next possession, Adebayo hits an emphatic dunk and picks up another foul. “The Heat have missed one shot this fourth quarter.”

Adebayo makes the free throw.

Heat 101-93 Nuggets, 5:14, 4th quarter

Jokić is in scoring mode here, which the Nuggets need. Murray finds him for a basket.

But then Caldwell-Pope picks up foul number five on a Lowry three-point attempt. Oof.

Lowry hits all three.

Heat 98-91 Nuggets, 5:57, 4th quarter

Butler with a three pointer! That’s how you make up for a turnover! Murray, who has had a rough game so far, hits a key basket here to cut the lead down.

But Butler drives to the basket, hits a floater and draws a foul from Gordon! Butler makes the free throw.

Heat 92-89 Nuggets, 7:14, 4th quarter

Butler turns it over and you know that Jokić was going to make him pay. Three-point game.

Heat 92-87 Nuggets, 8:03, 4th quarter

Adebayo makes up for the foul with a jumper. The Heat not missing shots this quarter.

Heat 90-87 Nuggets, 8:59, 4th quarter

Vincent picks up his fourth foul, it’s on Jokić but it’s not a shooting foul. No matter, Adebayo fouls him on the possession anyways, putting him on the line.

He (you’ll never believe this) makes both.

Heat 90-85 Nuggets, 9:17, 4th quarter

Jokić picks up his third foul. There’s zero chance he actually fouls out of a finals game, but something to look at.

Meanwhile, Vincent is now on the line for free throws after being fouled by Caldwell-Pope. He makes both. The crowd is not happy with the refs.

The Heat are now hitting over 50% from the three-point line. The Nuggets are hitting around 36%. That’s how Miami has gotten back in control here. Denver doesn’t need to hit more threes but they do need to stop giving the Heat these opportunities and looks.

Heat 88-85 Nuggets, 9:43, 4th quarter

Duncan Robinson makes a layup and a 10-0 run has given the Heat a three-point lead. Denver takes a TO.

Heat 86-85 Nuggets, 10:10, 4th quarter

Nuggets with a shot clock violation, which you very rarely see. On the other end, Vincent hits a three. Miami’s three-point shots are falling and that’s usually a sign that Heat’s offense is working like it should. Heat in front.

Heat 83-85 Nuggets, 10:48, 4th quarter

What got into Duncan Robinson? He makes a layup and a three-pointer and it’s now a two-point game?

Nuggets call a timeout. Wisely.

Heat 78-85 Nuggets, 11:20, 4th quarter

The venerable Jeff Green gets to the line and makes both of his free throws. He says he will never retire, Jeff Green. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps.

Heat 78-83 Nuggets, 11:40, 4th quarter

Duncan Robinson starts the scoring in the 4th quarter with a three-pointer.

Heat 75-83 Nuggets, end of the 3rd quarter

Jokić gets fouled and goes to the line, where he makes one of two free throws.

There’s no additional scoring, but The Joker has definitely made his presence known in the third.

Heat 75-82 Nuggets, 1:00, 3rd quarter

Brown forces a turnover and Jokić scores yet again. Yeah, he’s got a lot left in the tank.

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Heat 75-80 Nuggets, 1:21, 3rd quarter

Lowry gets called for an offensive foul for a turnover and on the other end, there’s Jokić again. He scores and draws a foul.

Of course, he makes the free throw. If Miami’s goal was to tire him out it’s not paying dividends yet.

Heat 75-77 Nuggets, 1:50, 3rd quarter

Jokić scores a two-pointer. Lowry hits a three-pointer. It’s a three-point game again.

Heat 70-75 Nuggets, 3:05, 3rd quarter

It suddenly feels like a rock fight. The Heat are disrupting and making the Nuggets actually work here, which might be the key to coming out here with a win.

Eventually Brown draws a foul to get on the line, maybe the best approach here against this Miami defense. He makes both free throws.

Heat 70-73 Nuggets, 4:04, 3rd quarter

Brown steals the ball and on the ensuing possession, Jokić scores.

But Adebayo answers.

Heat 68-71 Nuggets, 4:56, 3rd quarter

Caldwell-Pope gets charged with a foul that will put Butler on the line. If the Heat want to win, he’ll have to do this a few more times at least.

Butler makes both free throws.

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