Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Tribune News Service

Sport

Dave Hyde

Dave Hyde: Butler outlasts LeBron down stretch as Heat force Game 6

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) shoots a 3-pointer with less than two seconds on the clock, but misses as the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo defends during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Heat won, 111-108, to force a Game 6. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

All fourth quarter long, it was LeBron James and Jimmy Butler playing H-O-R-S-E. Back and forth they went, LeBron and Butler, Butler and LeBron, like two heavyweights until the Lakers final consequential possession when LeBron couldn't get a shot and ...

Markieff Morris threw the ball out of bounds with 2.2 seconds left.

The Miami Heat survived. Butler starred. Game 5 delivered right to the final seconds with seven lead changes in the final three minutes, with each team's biggest star making the best plays right until Morris's pass went harmlessly over the baseline.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard fouls the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler (22) as he drives to the basket in the first quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Heat won, 111-108, to force a Game 6. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Heat win, 111-108.

Heat demand a Game 6.

Heat do something again few expected in a way no one could underplay. LeBron had 40 points. And the Lakers lost. Anthony Davis, who was limping by the end, had 28 points. And the Lakers lost.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis is fouled by Miami Heat's Andre Iguodala, right, as Jimmy Butler (22) helps on defense in the fourth quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Heat won, 111-108, to force a Game 6. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

They lost because Butler picked up his team again and became the Heat's LeBron. Too far? Not if you saw his 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and a block.

Back and forth LeBron-Butler went in those final few minutes. LeBron drove hard, was fouled and made two free throws to tie it at 101.

Butler hit a 20-foot shot to put the Heat up, 103-101.

The Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard (39) is held back by the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler, left, and Jae Crowder during a first-quarter skirmish in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

LeBron drove hard for the basket and was fouled to put the Lakers up by one. Butler scored again. Then LeBron.

With 46.7 seconds left and the Heat down one, Butler drove hard and was fouled. By now, playing every minute but one this night, he leaned over, breathing hard, needing a timeout that coach Erik Spoelstra gave him.

Did you sense the classic happening here? It was a great small picture inside the important big picture of the NBA Finals. Butler made both foul shots to put the Heat ahead and, after a Davis put-back at the shot-clock buzzer, Butler earned two more free throws with 16.8 seconds left.

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) collides with the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler (22) in the fourth quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Heat won, 111-108, to force a Game 6. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Swish.

That was enough. That led to the Lakers' final turnover. Did the Heat leave anything out there? Did you watch this great game?

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis, right, and the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo battle for a loose ball in the third quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Heat won, 111-108, to force a Game 6. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Did you see Duncan Robinson run the court, grab a rebound and dunk in the first quarter to pull the Heat within a point? Or Kendrick Nunn come off the bench with 11 first-half points?

Butler energized a six-point possession to put the Heat up 76-70: laying in a basket while whacked by Dwight Howard for a flagrant foul; making the free throw; and then passing an offensive rebound to Robinson, who sank a 3-pointer.

Did you see Bam Adebayo block Rajon Rondo to end the third quarter? Or Robinson step in and take a charge from LeBron James in way that sent in sprawling across the floor?

The Los Angeles Lakers' Danny Green, left, blocks a shot by the Miami Heat's Tyler Herro (14) in the first quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

The Lakers had everything their way entering this game. The 3-1 lead. Their two stars, LeBron and Davis, entered at the top of their games. The Lakers even broke out their Black Mamba uniforms in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.

"Every time we lose in the jerseys, we feel like we've let him down, and we don't want to do that," Anthony Davis said Thursday. "But if we come in and do the things we're supposed to do we can remain undefeated and close this thing out and make this moment even more special."

It was special for the Heat by Friday's end. Special in a way that said this season wasn't over. And Butler, being Butler, said what has to happen in Game 6.