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A14 sports
Monday 8 May 2023
Lakers, Heat surging in series through defensive superiority

By GREG BEACHAM Immanuel Quickley, turned
AP Sports Writer an ankle midway through
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — the fourth quarter of Game
The NBA just completed 3. Quickley is "day to day,"
its highest-scoring regular coach Tom Thibodeau
season in 53 years, its teams said.
scoring 282,127 points while — PRESSURE IS ON: Miami.
a record 20 players made The Heat have to expect
at least 200 3-pointers. that New York will be better
And now two low-seeded offensively in Game 4,
playoff teams are surging and all the Knicks have to
toward the conference do to reclaim the home-
finals with dominant court edge is simply win
defense. one game. Miami can't let
The Lakers and the Heat are the momentum pendulum
widely considered to be swing back New York's way
two of the best defensive now.
teams in a league that has WARRIORS AT LAKERS
rarely been more offense- Los Angeles leads 2-1.
oriented, and both veteran- Game 4, 10 p.m. EDT,
led groups turned in sterling Monday, TNT
defensive performances — NEED TO KNOW: The
to take 2-1 series leads in Lakers are unbeaten in their
the second round.Miami downtown arena since
hosts the Knicks and Los March, going 7-0 with four
Angeles hosts the Warriors playoff wins and a play-in
on Monday night with a victory. They've won 10 of
chance to seize control of 11 at home overall as part
both series largely because of their overall 16-5 surge
they've been better since St. Patrick's Day.
defensively. — KEEP AN EYE ON: The
"We're playing the way we whistles. The Lakers have
envisioned the Lakers to shot 83 free throws in the
play," LeBron James said. Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui series to the Warriors' 39,
"No matter what goes on, Hachimura defends during the second half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball Western Conference which isn't really a surprise
we hang our hats on our semifinal Saturday, May 6, 2023, in Los Angeles. given these teams' sharply
defense." Associated Press contrasting offensive styles.
Eighth-seeded Miami held are working. I'm not worried even with his right ankle at KNICKS AT HEAT Yet the Warriors and their
New York to 86 points about how we're going to less than 100% — is on a tear Miami leads 2-1. Game 4, fans are crying foul over
while winning Game 3 on score as long as we're on like only one other player in 7:30 p.m. EDT, Monday, TNT the officials' decisions —
Saturday, and the seventh- point defensively, starting Heat playoff history. — NEED TO KNOW: New even though Golden State
seeded Lakers held Golden with (Davis)." He's scored at least 25 York shot 34% on Saturday, was called for 22 fouls to
State under 100 points for The Heat went to work points in all seven of its second-worst effort of the Lakers' 21 in Game 3 —
only the fifth time all season late Sunday morning to his appearances in this the season, and regressed and the momentum could
in a 30-point blowout win. watch film, before players postseason. That's the from going 16 for 40 on 3s shift if Golden State gets to
The victories didn't decide scattered their separate second-longest such streak in Game 2 to 8 for 40 in the line more or limits the
either series, but they clearly ways for some semblance in Heat history; James had Game 3. On the plus side, it Lakers' free throws.
showed the direction both of an off day. And there 15 games of at least 25 can't get much worse. On — INJURY WATCH: Neither
winners want to go — and were tons of options: some points on the way to his first the other side, Miami didn't team is significantly limited
how they want to get there. were going to the Formula championship in 2012. exactly sizzle offensively in by injuries, and Davis'
The Lakers' opponents 1 race in Miami Gardens, "He's on his run right now," Game 3 either — 39% from continued good health is
are shooting an NBA-low others were making the trip Heat center Bam Adebayo the field, 22% from 3-point the Lakers' greatest asset.
41.3% in the postseason, north to Sunrise to watch said. "He's playing at an all- range. After missing big chunks
and they give most of the the Tampa Bay Lightning time high." — KEEP AN EYE ON: Julius of the past three seasons,
credit to Anthony Davis. host Game 3 of their NHL He's shooting 56% so far in Randle. A game-high 14 he's close to full strength
The big man has blocked playoff series. these playoffs, 60% from rebounds in Game 3 was — even if Lakers fans hold
a whopping 37 shots in "The guys all understand 2-point range. But as far as a good thing, but he shot their collective breath
LA's nine playoff games that we have to get a rest, "at an all-time high," Butler only 4 of 15 from the field each time he takes one of
while altering countless get off your feet," Heat would disagree, sort of. and missed all five of his his many awkward falls to
others and playing with the coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think if you'd have 3-point tries. He shot 30% in the court.
defensive fire of his best "They're not going to be watched me at Tomball his playoff debut in 2021, — PRESSURE IS ON: Golden
NBA seasons, including the standing around, doing High School, you would is shooting just under 35% State. They've rallied from a
Lakers' 2020 championship that kind of stuff, but I say that I was way better in this year's playoffs, and 3-1 series deficit only once in
run in the bubble. also don't want them just than I am now because I clearly needs to do more their playoff history, beating
"The biggest thing for me obsessing about the game was very, very dominant on the offensive end. Oklahoma City in the 2016
is for us to come out with (Monday). We have to rest then," Butler said. "I'm — INJURY WATCH: Butler Western Conference finals
a mindset to just defend," up, recover, let your mind comfortable. I'm confident. made it through Game 3 — right before that 73-win
Lakers coach Darvin Ham kind of wander to other I work extremely hard at my with his ankle, which still team infamously blew a
said Sunday after practice. things. ... It's a fun time craft and I'm very grateful needs treatment. Knicks 3-1 series lead to James'
"Everything that happens right now in South Florida. It to be able to play for an point guard Jalen Brunson Cleveland Cavaliers in the
offensively, that's more who really is." organization and a city like is toughing out an ankle NBA Finals.q
has it going, which actions For Miami, Jimmy Butler — Miami." problem, and his backup,