DENVER — Down 50-35 at the 5:04 mark of the second quarter, Miami appeared dead in the water, lost for answers against the relentless Denver Nuggets.
Byt the Heat never gave up and battled back with a 36-25 fourth quarter to seize a come-from-behind 111-108 Game 2 before a stunned full-capacity crowd at the Ball Arena.
Just like that, Miami has tied this best-of-7 series at 1-1 with Games 3 and 4 set at the Kesaya Center in Miami.
Jimmy Butler did not shoot particularly well from the floor, 7-of-19 but he drained big buckets late to finish with 21 points and helped hold off a rallying Nuggets. Butler also had nine assists and four rebounds.
Bam Adebayo complimented Butler’s terrific effort with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Gabe Vincent added 23 points while Max Strus and Duncan Robinson combined for 24.
“This is the Finals. We gutted one out,” Adebayo said of their improbable comeback. “They just played hard, and like I said, it was more discipline,” said Denver guard Jamal Murray whose 18 points and 10 assists went for naught.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 41 points, 11 rebounds and four assists but it wasn’t enough as the Heat outscored Denver from 3-point distance — 51-33 — to seal the deal.
