James, Davis, propel Lakers to second straight win over Heat
MIAMI:Anthony Davis and LeBron James powered Los Angeles to a 124-114 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday that put the Lakers two wins away from their first NBA title since 2010.
The injury depleted Heat hung on as best they could, but 33 points from James and 32 from Davis were just too much.
Davis, playing in his first NBA Finals, overpowered a Heat defense sorely missing injured Bam Adebayo. He added 14 rebounds as the Lakers took a two games to none lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals in the league's quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.
"He's a big-time player," James, playing in his 10th championship series, said of Davis, whose 14 rebounds included eight offensive boards. "He understands the position we're in."
Davis made 14 of his first 15 shots from the field, finishing with 15 baskets in 20 attempts.
For the second straight game James approached a tripledouble, adding nine assists and nine rebounds. Rajon Rondo added 16 points off the bench and Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 11 points apiece for the Lakers.
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 25 points and Kelly Olynyk added 24 off the bench as the Heat had to make do not only without Adebayo but with star guard Goran Dragic, who was sidelined by a left foot injury.
Even without them, James said, Miami remained a dangerous team, adding that the Lakers need to clamp down harder defensively.
"Myself, coach and AD were not happy with our defensive presence tonight," James said. "We can do a lot better.
"Myself and AD, we're not satisfied with just the win. We want to be great.
"They have five guys on the floor that's a threat, as they showed tonight," James added of Miami. "So we have to continue to stay on our P's and Q's and cross our T's and dot our I's through the course of a game."
Stung by the Heat's quick start in game one, the Lakers came out of the blocks hot.