LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — On an evening when the Lakers had hoped to be triumphant, perhaps entertaining visions of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy above their heads, a different picture left an impression in Game 5.
It was Jimmy Butler, late in the fourth quarter, doubled over a baseline barrier, close to empty in the 111-108 Heat win. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, who has two rings himself, thought it spoke to how Butler, a powerful force on both ends of the floor, “burned the boats” in a season-saving performance with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Spoelstra said. “That’s an image of a champion before you’re a champion.”
It’s also something LeBron James understands and has come to recognize in Butler, a 31-year-old Texan who was thought to be an All-Star level player before this season but not a franchise elevator. And between James and Butler – two competitors that have said in the past they love going head-to-head – this year’s Finals has become a bona fide superstar duel.
Never was that more relevant than in Game 5, as James’ 40 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists were not enough to push the Lakers over the edge into immortality. The last stretch saw James or Butler score 15 of the last 19 points of the game in the final three minutes.
“I think both teams are throwing haymakers,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said later.
Both stars certainly are.
With the Lakers up 3-2, James seems to be a favorite for Finals MVP should his team prevail: He’s led the team averaging 30.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists while shooting 45% from 3-point range on more than six attempts per game.
But Butler is right with him statistically: He’s averaging 29 points, 10.2 assists and 8.6 rebounds along with 2.6 steals. Though he is ever reluctant to take threes, his 55.8% from the field has been key for the Miami offense, especially his midrange game against smaller Lakers defenders. With his Friday triple-double, he became the first player to have two triple-doubles in his first Finals.
In Game 5, Anthony Davis struggled to find answers for him. While Vogel was upset with two calls late against Davis and Markieff Morris that put Butler at the line for go-ahead free throws, the NBA’s “last two minute report” released Saturday confirmed both calls.
The results of these playoffs have raised Butler’s profile, particularly given that teams that traded him or let him walk – the Chicago Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers – ended their seasons long ago. James also seemed to acknowledge Butler as a peer in that game-ending run.
“That’s the beauty of the game, being able to compete at the highest level,” James said. “You take those opportunities and you live in the moment. You’re trying to make plays for your team and be successful on both ends, and we were both just trying to do that and trying to will our team to a victory. You know, he was able to make one more play than I was able to make tonight and come away with a victory.”
Davis listed as probable for Game 6
While any avid basketball fan will be concerned by a seemingly sudden grab for one’s calf in the Finals, the Lakers remained upbeat that Davis, who scored 28 points in Game 5, would be set to play for the rest of the series.
The NBA’s Saturday afternoon injury report listed him as “probable” with a right heel injury, which Davis said first occurred in the closeout game against Denver in the Western Conference Finals and was re-aggravated in the first quarter of Game 5.
“Went out the end of the first and it just kind of just wore off and got back to normal,” Davis said. “Just kept moving around. Just trying not to sit down. Get that adrenaline going and I was able to keep going and keep playing.”
The Lakers and Heat did not have media obligations Saturday, but Davis said Friday night “I’ll be fine” for Game 6, which the injury report seemed to confirm.
Miami point guard Goran Dragic remains doubtful with a left plantar fascia injury suffered in Game 1 of the series.
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