It is well known: the Heat lacks neither pride, nor combativeness, nor breath. And it is not because the Nuggets receive at "Mile High City", so nicknamed because it rises to a mile (1,609 m) above sea level, that it was going to prevent Erik Spoelstra's team from showing its best face to regain the advantage of the floor, before the third round scheduled for Wednesday in Florida where the heat promises to be very clammy.

"This one we went for it with the guts!" exclaimed at the microphone of NBATV Bam Adebayo, who knows what it takes as intensity to win this type of games so important, he who was bruised by the failure on the last step, suffered three years earlier against the Lakers of LeBron James, in the anti-Covid bubble of Orlando.

In the same theme, Denver coach Michael Malone fumed in the post-game conference after his players: "Let's talk about effort. We had guys on the field who felt sorry for themselves because they didn't make their shots. It's not the preseason, it's not the regular season. It's the NBA Finals! It really puzzles me, it's disappointing."

Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) after a dunk, during the second game of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets on June 4, 2023 in Denver © MATTHEW STOCKMAN/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"Coast-to-coast"

If there is one player to spare on the Nuggets side, it is Nikola Jokic. At the top of his game, also overpowered inside (16/28 shooting, 11 rbds), he responded, alone, to the attack salvos of the Heat, who quickly led 21-10.

The Serbian giant was then overwhelming in the third quarter by scoring 18 points, including this "coast-to-coast", this crazy race of his racket to the opposing circle, inheriting "MVP! MVP! MVP!" yelled from the stands.

Jokic is already twice (2021 and 2022). But of a final, not yet, and if he is well on his way to being indeed, after his triple-double of the first game, a first title for the Nuggets can only rest on his scoring.

As delicious as they were sometimes, like this ball deflected with one hand for Aaron Gordon's back dunk (12 pts), his passes were rarer. But when it makes only four, as in this game, or less, Denver has a record of three wins and eight losses now this season.

Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat) attempts a basket against Jeff Green (Denver Nuggets) during the second game of the NBA Finals, June 4, 2023 in Denver © POOL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

On the Miami side, it was about staying true to its principles of play and keeping confidence. So, as their coach Erik Spoelstra had urged them the day before - "Take the shots and catch fire!" - the Floridians managed to find the target behind the arc by succeeding 17 of their 35 attempts, where they had sinned three nights earlier (33%).

Gabriel leads by example

Gabriel, author of a 4/6 for 23 points scored in total, showed the example, after Mike Strus, more than weighed down by his 0/9 in the first game, planted his first four banderilles, awarded in the first quarter, before missing the next six (14 pts, 6 assists).

Another notable change, and profitable for Miami, is free throws: 18 scored out of 20 obtained, much more than 2/2 of the first game.

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) throws a pitch during the second game of the NBA Finals, on June 4, 2023 in Denver against the Miami Heat © Justin Edmonds / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Much more aggressive, the Heat nevertheless suffered a big storm at the beginning of the second quarter, when the Nuggets inflicted a 21-6, to count up to 15 units ahead.

But, without panicking, the Floridians made the round back and were able to come back to height, then carried by Bam Adebayo, tireless warrior (21 pts, 9 rbds).

And to answer, blow for blow, as in a boxing fight, to the K.O. sought by Jokic, Miami was a formidable efficiency in the last quarter, with Duncan Robinson, author of his 10 points at 100% to start, and Jimmy Butler finding colors, to complete this teamwork by scoring 8 of his 21 points (9 assists).

Miami still trembled until the end, when Jamal Murray, long under the defensive snuff, revolted in the money-time, chaining 10 of his 18 points (10 assists). But his shot at the buzzer failed to snatch overtime.

© 2023 AFP