Heat, following similar script as Game 1, lose to Nuggets in Game 3 with poor shooting
Miami Heat centre Bam Adebayo (13) shoots against Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic, on June 7, 2023. (Kyle Terada / Pool Photo via AP)
MIAMI -
Those open looks Miami kept knocking down three nights earlier in Denver just wouldn't go down back home.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were a combined 10 of 30 in the paint, and too many other shooters were cold in a 109-94 loss Wednesday night that gave the Nuggets a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
"I just missed some that I normally make," said Butler, who finished with 28 points on 11-of-24 shooting. "Along with Bam, too, but we're gonna continually take those, getting two feet in the paint. If you can get a shot up, get it up, and if you can't, get it out to your shooters. I think we did a good job with that. Maybe we do have to do a better job, but those are the same shots that we're gonna get next game, and we're expected to take and make those."
After knocking down 17 3-pointers in Game 2, Miami made 11 of 34 shots from deep in Game 3. Duncan Robinson had three. Caleb Martin added a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter.
Despite getting the looks inside that they wanted, the Heat simply did not knock them down, resulting in a loss in which their fans, once roaring as loud as they could as they swirled white flags above their heads, were finding the exits before the final minutes.
Gabe Vincent shot 2 for 10 and Max Strus was 1 for 7, the starting guards combining to miss eight of their 10 attempts behind the arc.
Butler couldn't seem to find the words to describe what went wrong, or why it was such a far cry from their success in a tough road environment a few nights earlier.
"I don't know. It just can't happen," Butler said. "It won't happen again, and it starts with myself. I've got to lock in on the defensive end … I think if I start playing and doing that, then everybody else has to follow suit."
Miami made just 9 of 26 first-half attempts in the paint and finished the game shooting 37% from the field, compared to Denver's 51.2.
"I thought offensively we actually did get a lot of opportunities in the paint," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "Yes, you have to credit their size and everything like that, but we've proven that we can finish in the paint when we're at our best."
Adebayo finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds but shot just 7 of 21 from the field.
The Nuggets pulled away in the third quarter -- leading by as many as 19 -- by accomplishing what the Heat couldn't: They had 60 points in the paint to Miami's 34. Denver only took 18 3-point attempts after taking 28 in Game 2 and 27 in Game 1.
"They pummeled us in the paint," Spoelstra said. "They didn't really have to shoot 3s. ... There wasn't a need to space the floor. We didn't offer much resistance."
The Heat pulled within nine with 1:22 left thanks to a 3-pointer by Robinson but missed all of their shot attempts the rest of the way.
"Good win for us," Denver coach Michael Malone said, "but we did not come down here to get one win."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre calls for Trudeau to apologize over Speaker's Nazi invite as MPs begin jockeying for the job
While Anthony Rota won't be in the big chair presiding over House of Commons proceedings on Wednesday, it is his last sitting day holding the title of Speaker and already the jockeying for his job has begun. And while some of the initial acrimony has calmed, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is continuing to push for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologize on Canada's behalf.
Password sharing will no longer be an option for Disney+ users. Here’s when
Streaming platform Disney+ is updating its subscriber agreement and is adding a no-sharing passwords policy.
Details leading up to Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death revealed
A long-time, close friend of Hardeep Singh Nijjar says the Sikh activist found a tracking device underneath his car before he was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in June.
U.S. soldier who sprinted into North Korea 2 months ago is in American custody, officials say
The U.S. soldier who sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago was released into American custody Wednesday, according to two officials.
Hundreds of derelict vessels removed from Canadian waters, Coast Guard says
The Canadian Coast Guard is working its way through a Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act inventory, armed with the power to fine owners of vessels that threaten marine environments or public safety.
Ontario widower stuck with US$100K+ medical bill after late wife hospitalized on vacation
An Ontario widower, still grieving his wife's death, is unsure how to pay for a medical bill from their last vacation to Florida, which costs more than US$124,000.
Company at centre of E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares charged
The City of Calgary has charged the local catering company connected to the E. coli outbreak.
ER doctor challenging 'toxic environment' in Ontario hospital after secret investigation based on unfounded murder allegation
After more than 30 years of caring for critically ill patients in emergency and intensive care, Dr. Scott Anderson is preparing to face off against the hospital where he works in London, Ont., in a case described as "unusual" by lawyers and potentially costly for Ontario taxpayers.
Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 3.4 million U.S. vehicles due to fire risk and urge owners to park outdoors
Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires.
Politics
-
Poilievre calls for Trudeau to apologize over Speaker's Nazi invite as MPs begin jockeying for the job
While Anthony Rota won't be in the big chair presiding over House of Commons proceedings on Wednesday, it is his last sitting day holding the title of Speaker and already the jockeying for his job has begun. And while some of the initial acrimony has calmed, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is continuing to push for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologize on Canada's behalf.
-
Working with federal government to lower food prices a 'benefit' to Canada's grocery leaders: Champagne
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says it's 'an advantage' to grocery leaders to work with the Canadian government to find a way to stabilize food prices as he continues his string of meetings with them this week.
-
Anthony Rota resigns as House Speaker amid condemnation for inviting Nazi veteran to Parliament
Anthony Rota has resigned from his prestigious position as Speaker of the House of Commons over his invitation to, and the House's subsequent recognition of, a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War. Now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing calls to apologize, and investigate.
Health
-
ER doctor challenging 'toxic environment' in Ontario hospital after secret investigation based on unfounded murder allegation
After more than 30 years of caring for critically ill patients in emergency and intensive care, Dr. Scott Anderson is preparing to face off against the hospital where he works in London, Ont., in a case described as "unusual" by lawyers and potentially costly for Ontario taxpayers.
-
Company at centre of E. coli outbreak at Calgary daycares charged
The City of Calgary has charged the local catering company connected to the E. coli outbreak.
-
Ontario widower stuck with US$100K+ medical bill after late wife hospitalized on vacation
An Ontario widower, still grieving his wife's death, is unsure how to pay for a medical bill from their last vacation to Florida, which costs more than US$124,000.
Sci-Tech
-
Three astronauts return to Earth after a year in space. Frank Rubio sets U.S. space record
A NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts returned to Earth on Wednesday after being stuck in space for just over a year. American Frank Rubio set a record for the longest U.S. spaceflight -- a result of the extended stay.
-
The next tool in Canada's wildfire fight could be eyes in the sky watching around the clock
A joint initiative from three government agencies aims to monitor wildfires across Canada from space. Here's how they'll do it.
-
Iran says it has successfully launched an imaging satellite into orbit amid tensions with the West
Iran claimed on Wednesday that it successfully launched an imaging satellite into space, a move that could further ratchet up tensions with Western nations that fear its space technology could be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Entertainment
-
Hollywood writers strike declared over after boards vote to approve contract with studios
Hollywood's writers strike was declared over after nearly five months Tuesday night when board members from their union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production.
-
Password sharing will no longer be an option for Disney+ users. Here’s when
Streaming platform Disney+ is updating its subscriber agreement and is adding a no-sharing passwords policy.
-
Screenwriters return to work for first time in nearly five months while actors await new negotiations
Less than a day after Hollywood's writers strike was declared over, Bill Maher led the charge back to work by announcing early Wednesday that his HBO show "Real Time with Bill Maher" would be back on the air Friday.
