Lakers dominate Heat for lopsided victory in opening game

ORLANDO: Heavy favourite the Los Angeles Lakers dismantled the Miami Heat 11698 in game one of the NBA finals yesterday, as their opponent struggled with injuries after making a fast start.

The Heat grabbed a 13point leg up in the first quarter but the lead was shortlived, as the Lakers drained 11 threepointers to complete a 30point turnaround and close out the first half, while Miami’s defence crumbled.

The Lakers kept the pressure up as two of the Heat’s biggest playmakers — point guard Goran Dragic and forward Bam Adebayo — exited the game with injuries.

Dragic, Miami’s leading scorer in the postseason, suffered a foot injury in the second quarter, while Adebayo left in the third with a shoulder strain after twice colliding with Lakers centre

Dwight Howard.

‘‘We came out slow,’’ Lakers forward Anthony Davis, the night’s leading scorer with 34 points, said.

‘‘[If] we want to win this series and become champions we have to play better from the start.’’

Sixteentime AllStar LeBron James, competing in his 50th NBA finals game, scored 25 points with 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Heat AllStar forward Jimmy Butler rolled his ankle and fell to the ground grabbing his left leg with seconds left on the clock in the second quarter and was seen limping on the court afterward, but managed to finish the game, putting up 23 points.

Former US President Barack Obama, 15time AllStar Shaquille O’Neal and great Kareem AbdulJabar were spotted among the game’s virtual fans in the otherwise empty stands in the biosecure bubble at Walt Disney World, where players have been living and competing isolated from the outside world since July.

The evening’s event was laced with activism, as players warmed up prior to the game in Tshirts that read ‘‘VOTE’’ and Obama used the opportunity — from his virtual seat — to thank