JAMES FALLS SHORT OF SECOND CONSECUTIVE TRIPLE-DOUBLE
James fell just short of his second consecutive triple-double, scoring 33 points, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out nine assists, stealing a ball, and making a block.
DAVIS LEADS LAKERS TO NBA FINALS
Davis finished with a double-double of 32 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Lakers in the paint. This marks the Lakers' first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2010.
RONDO SHINES IN SIXTH MAN ROLE
Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo came off the bench and led the Lakers in playmaking, contributing a double-double of 16 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.
KUZMA AND CALDWELL-POPE JOIN DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORERS
Reserve power forward Kyle Kuzma scored 11 points, matching starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's point total. Together, they completed the list of five Lakers players who reached double-digits.
BUTLER LEADS SCORING EFFORT FOR HEAT
Small forward Jimmy Butler recorded a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds, leading the scoring for the Heat. Five Heat players also reached double-digits, although it wasn't enough to secure a victory.
OLYNYK AND HERRO CONTRIBUTE FOR MIAMI
Reserve center Kelly Olynyk was Miami's second-leading scorer with 24 points and nine rebounds. Rookie shooting guard Tyler Herro, starting for the Heat, added 17 points and seven rebounds.
HEAT STRUGGLE WITHOUT KEY PLAYERS
The game lacked any sports excitement after it was revealed that Heat starters Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic and All-Star center Bam Adebayo were out due to injuries. With Leonard as the starting center for Miami but playing only nine minutes, the team simply went through the motions.
DAVIS DOMINATES INSIDE THE PAINT
With no quality big men from the Heat to guard him, Davis took control from the start. Despite Olynyk's effort, he couldn't effectively defend or control Davis in the paint. Davis finished the game with 15 made field goals out of 20 attempts, including his only three-point shot and free throws.
LAKERS OUTCLASS HEAT
With Dragic and Adebayo absent, the Lakers had a clear path to victory against Miami. Despite playing at a lower intensity to prevent further declining television ratings, they were always superior to the Heat, regardless of the final score.
THIRD GAME TO BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY
The third game of the series will take place on Sunday at the same venue in the Orlando bubble.