ORLANDO — The worst-kept secret in the bubble leading up to Game 4 of The Finals was that Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo was going to play.
The emotional boost for the Heat had to be huge. Just knowing that they’d have the player Jimmy Butler refers to as the “heart and soul” of the team back in the mix after injuring his left shoulder in Game 1 was the energy boost coach Erik Spoelstra’s team was looking for — especially with the most consequential game of the series on tap.
> Finals Game 5: Friday, 9 p.m. ET on ABC
Whether or not a semi-healthy (or at least healthy enough) Adebayo would be the key to a second consecutive Heat win in this series remained to be seen. He still had to deal with the physicality the Lakers would apply.
He made the first basket of the game Tuesday, looking as bouncy as he’s been this entire postseason. Then it was just a matter of how long he could maintain it and, whether it would be enough to propel the Heat.
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24 — Might be worth $20 a cup if you play like this!
That Big Face Coffee is working. A 50-40-90 in his #NBAFinals debut … https://t.co/Dq51hgDKf3
— Sekou Smith (@SekouSmithNBA) October 6, 2020
23 — Whatever magic Lakers assistant Phil Handy has on his side these past six seasons, I need to borrow some of it ASAP!
22 — They should get Jae Crowder one of those Black Panther suits for the work he’s doing in the low post early on against Dwight Howard.
Jae Crowder engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Dwight Howard under the basket on defense should be turned into an instructional video. Just unbelievable work from Crowder early. #NBAFinals
— Sekou Smith (@SekouSmithNBA) October 7, 2020
21 — Congrats to LeBron on yet another milestone. But look at this list and tell me Bill Russell wasn’t an absolute monster. Don’t argue eras to me either. He’s the Lord of the Rings and I’m not standing for any disrespect tonight.
Congrats to @KingJames of the @Lakers for moving up to 5th on the #NBAFinals GAMES PLAYED list! pic.twitter.com/QfzhO8BlDU
— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2020
20 — Somebody check Tyler Herro’s body for any possible fractures. LeBron didn’t have to do the rookie like that!
Bron setting the tone early 😤#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/nkwKIBGQzF
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 7, 2020
19 — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope carrying the Lakers in the early going. I said, KCP is carrying the Lakers right now!!!!
Lakers fans looking at the boxscore and seeing KCP has 80% of the teams points pic.twitter.com/4V4gEftPVL
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 7, 2020
📷 Game 4
LAL 21-18 MIA
KCP: 10 PTS
J.Butler: 7 PTS#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/SFoWWkQmw8— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) October 7, 2020
18 — Kyle Kuzma’s knocking down shots on one end of the floor and being targeted on the other. I tried to be a little more diplomatic than Perk.
Thank God Kuzma is making shots because defensively he’s a Filet Mignon with A1 sauce…Miami is literally searching him out damn near every Play! Carry on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) October 7, 2020
17 — Don’t want to jinx anything, but Butler is balling again. Any fear factor the Lakers might have enjoyed in Games 1 and 2 is officially gone. The Heat are in this series right now in a major way.
Barista still perfect after 12 minutes
11 Pts | 5-5 FG pic.twitter.com/Tzt2wbmfWD
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 7, 2020
16 — This is LeBron at his best to me, even at this late(r) stage of his career. Bully ball suits him, even if he rarely utilizes this part of his game. And yes, I know he’s really a point guard these days and thinks the game in ways very few in history have. Sometimes it just makes sense to play to your obvious advantage until the other team finds a way to stop you.
LeBron in attack mode 🔥#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/sS3Lr0ZOPi
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 7, 2020
15 — Legit first half for what’s shaping up as the pivotal game of the series. Spoelstra pushing all the buttons on his coaching keypad. The Bam effect was real (nine points, four rebounds, one block, one steal and three turnovers in 15 minutes).
Raise your hand if you had KCP outscoring both LeBron and AD at halftime of Game 4 … Laker clinching to a 49-47 lead. Going to be a tense second half both ways. Balance of power in the series swings on the next 24 minutes. #NBAFinals
— Sekou Smith (@SekouSmithNBA) October 7, 2020
14 — Might this help explain some of what’s kept LeBron from going off thus far? LeBron has other ideas. He stopped to chat up the officials as the teams went their separate ways at halftime. He clearly feels like he hasn’t gotten the calls he should in the first half. Be interested to see what sort of adjustments he makes for the second half.
Miami showing a wall vs. LeBron in transition ala Giannis. Watch Crowder's effort to get to the nail. Watch Nunn completely ignore Rondo and stand at the nail. Miami is showing help vs. LeBron without always showing where it's coming from. Has to be a finish here. pic.twitter.com/kJHLMpgfWK
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) October 7, 2020
13 — Filing this one away until the fourth quarter:
Miami has dominated fourth quarters, especially the final 8-9 minutes, the entire playoffs. It was how they beat Boston despite being outscored in each of first three quarters. It was how they won Game 3.
Really interested to see what happens late if this stays close.
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) October 7, 2020
12 — This was crazy in real time. But it’s bonkers in slow motion:
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) October 7, 2020
11 — Numbers never lie, right? #TheLakersRealMVP
The Lakers were outscored by 10 points when Anthony Davis was off the floor in the first half.
They outscored the Heat by 12 points when AD was on the court.
Davis was 4-4 on uncontested shots in the first half and has made 24 of 27 uncontested shots this series. pic.twitter.com/IMukUfMYcY
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 7, 2020
10 — LeBron out here channeling his inner Splash Brother from deep! He and AD have stepped it up in the second half with Markeiff Morris in the starting lineup in place of Dwight Howard. Worked well enough for a 75-70 lead after three quarters. Still doesn’t feel like either team has wrestled complete control of this game away from the other, though. Strange vibe in the building. The Lakers’ family section cheering like they are down instead of leading.
9 — See, it wasn’t just me noting that strange vibe in the building.
In the arena it feels like the Lakers are down by 10.. weird energy.
— Morgann Mitchell (@THE_Morgann) October 7, 2020
8 — Heat passed up some quality looks near the basket in favor of hunting 3-pointers, I know you have to play the way you got here and everything, but …
The Lakers take 75-70 lead into the fourth quarter over Miami. Heat desperately need Jimmy Butler to heat up. Miami has missed 18 of 24 3-pointers. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both have 17 points.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 7, 2020
7 — Hollywood in the bubble rooting on their Lakers.
👀 @DonCheadle & @ohsnapjbsmoove #ULTRACourtside for Game 4 on ABC! #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/1I2wipnW6F
— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2020
6 — This is where not having Goran Dragic’s seasoning and decision-making, especially shot selection, hurts the Heat. No way around it. Glaring difference between a vet and a rookie like Kendrick Nunn, who still hasn’t regained his pre-shutdown rhythm.
Kendrick Nunn's 2-for-11 and shot selection isn't helping right now.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) October 7, 2020
5 — LeBron is working for his on both ends tonight. Tough shot. Tougher camera angle. Heat pushing the Lakers to their limits in this one. Finals drama at its best.
Bron fadeaway. Tough. ♨️#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/NcQuTbsaex
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 7, 2020
4 — The Heat won’t go away. Duncan Robinson with the bank shot to keep them right there.
ROBINSON BANKS IT IN 🤯#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/hx5tjBTdP5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 7, 2020
3 — Don’t ever discount the “others.”
Lakers 11-1 when KCP scores 10 or more—- 3-3 in the playoffs when he doesn’t—- those “others” matter
— Chris Miles (@chrismilestv) October 7, 2020
2 — Game time!
AD FOR THREE 🥶#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/AgExcO7k4j
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 7, 2020
1 — The Lakers are one win away from their 17th banner. LeBron and AD come through huge in the clutch. But KCP, Rajon Rondo, Markieff Morris, Kuzma and the others did some serious heavy lifting for this Game 4 win. The Lakers take a 3-1 edge into Friday’s Game 5 with a chance to end the bubble experience for everyone.
Rondo a MF…
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) October 7, 2020
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Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and NBA TV analyst. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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