Butler, Nunn star as Heat sweat out win over Lakers

LOS ANGELES — Kendrick Nunn scored 27 points, Jimmy Butler had 24 points and eight rebounds, and the Miami Heat held off the Los Angeles Lakers 96-94 Saturday in an NBA Finals rematch.

Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat in the teams’ first meeting since the Lakers won their 17th title with a six-game victory over Miami in the Florida bubble four months ago.

LeBron James had 19 points, nine assists and nine rebounds as the defending NBA champions lost their second straight game without starters Anthony Davis (right calf strain) and Dennis Schroder (COVID-19 protocols).

James stole the Heat’s inbounds pass with 8.4 seconds left to create one last chance for the Lakers, but the 17-time All-Star passed off to Alex Caruso, who missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Heat scored only 15 points in the fourth quarter and barely held off Los Angeles down the stretch for their second straight win after a three-game skid during their seven-game road trip.

Hornets 102, Warriors 100:

At Charlotte, N.C., Terry Rozier hit an off-balance jumper from the left corner as time expired, capping his 20-point fourth quarter and 36-point night, for Charlotte. Findlay Prep product Kelly Oubre Jr. had 25 points to lead Golden State, which was without Stephen Curry (illness).

Wizards 118, Trail Blazers 111: At Portland, Ore., Russell Westbrook had 27 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for Washington, which won its fourth straight and halted Portland’s six-game win streak. Bradley Beal scored 37 points for the Wizards. Damian Lillard had 35 points and 12 assists for the Blazers.

Bulls 122, Kings 114: At Chicago, Zach LaVine scored 38 points on 15-for-20 shooting, his fourth straight game with 30 or more points, for Chicago, which dealt Sacramento its sixth straight loss.

Suns 128, Grizzlies 97: At Memphis, Tenn., Devin Booker hit five of Phoenix’s franchise-record 24 3-pointers and totaled 23 points as the Suns won for the eighth time in nine games.