DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 04: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 04, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
Jimmy Butler can guard Jamal Murray after all – and Erik Spoelstra had the guts to call the shot.
There were all the reasons in the world to leave Butler guarding anyone but Murray after the Denver Nuggets lead guard torched the Heat for 26 points on 50% shooting in Game 1 of the NBA Finals: Murray was ostensibly too quick, too talented, too much of an offensive threat for the senescent Butler to keep in check.
It was untrue: After Murray picked apart Gabe Vincent in Game 1, Spoelstra sicced Butler on the Nuggets guard. It was an immediate game-changer: Murray shot just 7-of-15 from the field for 18 points on the night, with much of that production coming in a furious attempt by Denver to steal the game at the death. It wasn’t enough.
Despite a 41-point night from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, it was the Heat who came away with a 111-108 victory and stole home-court advantage in the Mile-High City in Game 2.
And with Butler shooting sub-40 percent (13-of-33 from the field) through the first two games, it’s clear scoring isn’t the biggest impact the Heat All-Star can have on a game.
His ability to neutralize an opponent reigns supreme, and for yet another playoff series, Butler has proven capable of doing so.
Fifteen shots from Murray in Game 2 tied the fewest number of shots he’s attempted in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. It’s a clear deviation from the norm for a player who has averaged close to 22 attempted field goals per game through this playoff run.
And it’s a clear indication that Butler, as expected, had the impact on the Nuggets star the Heat had hoped after Murray’s explosive Game 1 gave Denver a 1-0 series lead.
Murray made three of the six shot attempts that were defended by Butler, but missed the step-back three that could have sent the game to overtime with the Heat star smothering him on the game’s final possession.
As Butler goes, the rest of his team follows: The Heat ratcheted up the physicality and took away the two-time MVP’s help. Jokic, known most for his gifted playmaking abilities, recorded just four assists on the night, the fewest number of dimes he’s dished in the playoffs this season.
The Nuggets shot 11-of-28 from downtown – a respectable 39% three-point clip – but Murray shot just two-of-five, Michael Porter Jr. shot just one-of-six and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made just one of three attempts from deep.
And now it’s the Nuggets who must find some confidence on the road after ceding momentum to a rolling Heat team. Working in their favor: Jokic has won each of the last four times he’s traveled to South Beach.
The Heat, however, have found something – a similar revelation they made in both the first round against the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.
It doesn’t matter how many talking heads call this Miami team an underdog, or how many stars the other team has compared to the one in South Beach.
This team is going to walk onto your own home court and attempt to rip your heart out. The Heat did it in Game 2. Now, they go home to attempt to swing the series in their favor in Game 3.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service