Still no Jimmy Butler on the Miami side, but a Kawhi Leonard back for the Clippers. However, it is the Floridians who start the game the best, especially when the substitutes come into play. Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love hurt the Los Angeles defense and the Californian attack is broken down (23-35).
For long minutes, the Clippers were slowed down by the Heat's zone defense. They are struggling to find openings. It's Kawhi Leonard who will start the machine, with several baskets in a row. Norman Powell lends a valuable helping hand with his award-winning baskets. Los Angeles is thus in front at the break (59-58).
Returning from the locker room, Bam Adebayo struggles inside, causing fouls and shooting a lot of free throws, but Tyronn Lue's troops maintain their lead, notably with Paul George's outside shots (95-85). The start of the last quarter quickly turned to the advantage of the locals, with a sharp Kawhi Leonard, who therefore ensured their victory with controlled final minutes (121-104).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The return of Kawhi Leonard. After four missed matches in a row, the MVP of the 2014 and 2019 Finals returned to action. Like his teammates, he took a quarter to warm up, before shining in the second, with 13 points, to completely launch his team. Clumsy after returning from the locker room, he accelerated at the start of the fourth quarter with two dunks and a 3-point shot on the head of Bam Adebayo. He finished with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, and at the same time exceeded 13,000 career points.
– Bam Adebayo isolated. Top scorer for his team with 21 points, the pivot was not the only one to fuel the Heat's scoring. But in the second half, when Miami was tough, he seemed to be the only one who could weigh down and shake up the Los Angeles defense a little. He wasn't perfect, especially with his 6/17 shooting, but he tried, caused a lot of fouls and shot 13 free throws (for 9 successes). He would have deserved to have a little more support, if Erik Spoelstra's troops wanted to hope for anything in California.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
