Heat secures upset victory
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ORLANDO: Jimmy Butler and the undermanned Miami Heat breathed new life into the NBA finals with a gritty 115104 upset victory over the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday that cut the bestofseven series deficit to 21.
The Heat, well aware no NBA team has ever come back from a 03 series deficit to win in seven games, squandered a 14point thirdquarter lead but dug deep in the fourth to avoid being pushed to the brink of elimination.
Miami was without injured starters Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic for a second consecutive game but received a sensational outing from All Star forward Butler, who scored a gamehigh 40 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 13 assists.
LeBron James had a teamhigh 25 points for the Lakers while Anthony Davis, a dominant force in the first two games of the series, got in early foul trouble and lacked rhythm as he managed just 15 points.
Game four is tomorrow. — Reuters