Jimmy Butler outduels LeBron James as Heat force Game 6 with 111-108 win against Lakers

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)

The Los Angeles Lakers arrived for a coronation. The Miami Heat first insisted on competition.

So on they go in the NBA Finals, Jimmy Butler with no patience for the Lakers turning the league's quarantine Disney bubble into to champagne bubbles on Friday night.

There will be a Game 6 of the NBA Finals at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Wide World of Sports complex, with the Heat trimming their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 3-2 with a 111-108 victory.

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)

Even with LeBron James as dominant as when he helped lead the Heat to championships in 2012 and '13, the Heat again found answers during this magical playoff run that has seen them in the postseason eliminate the Indiana Pacers, top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and favored Boston Celtics.

"We just played hard and just stayed with it," Butler said after closing with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, his second triple-double of this championship series.

It was, in the end, the best of both James and Butler.

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)

James closed with 40 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, supported by 28 points and 12 rebounds from Anthony Davis.

Butler was supported by 26 points from Duncan Robinson, 14 from Kendrick Nunn, 13 from Bam Adebayo, 11 from Jae Crowder and 10 from Tyler Herro.

The Heat moved to an early 11-point lead and were up 25-24 at the end of the first quarter, 60-54 at halftime and 88-82 going into the fourth.

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)

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)

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)

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 Miami Heat's Duncan Robinson, bottom right, takes a charging foul from the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) in the second half 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)

The Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) blocks a shot by the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler 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 Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler steals the ball from the Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) in the second 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 Miami Heat's Kendrick Nunn, middle, gets a pass off in front of the Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis in the second 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)

The Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler blocks the shot of the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) 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)

The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) grabs a rebound as he is fouled by the Miami Heat's Andre Iguodala (28) in the second 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)