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Miami Heat’s Max Strus ignites in Game 2 of NBA Finals against Nuggets

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn’t worried.After watching guard Max Strus go 0-for-10 in Miami’s loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Spoelstra remained calm. He didn’t think Strus needed a pep talk to regain his rhythm. Thursday’s performance was simply a case of the ball not falling in.“We’ve been through this before. (Strus is) ignitable,” Spoelstra said, snapping his fingers.In Game 2 on Sunday, Strus found his shooting touch. He and guard Gabe Vincent were red-hot, recording eight of Miami’s 17 3-pointers to beat the Nuggets, 111-108, to even the series while handing Denver its first postseason loss at home.Strus set the tone in the first. He scored 12 of his 14 points in the opening quarter while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers during Miami’s early 10-2 lead.Strus finished the night shooting 4-for-10 from deep.“Max coming out like that was huge,” Heat guard Duncan Robinson said. “When he hit those shots, it settled everyone (down). From there it was about c...

Nuggets-Heat Game 2 superlatives: Michael Malone blasts Denver’s Game 2 approach, “This is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort”

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

HeroHeat guard Duncan Robinson Duncan Robinson was minus-20 in 6:48 through three quarters and hadn’t scored for Miami, which trailed by eight heading into the fourth quarter. Then Robinson scored eight in the first 70 seconds of the fourth quarter and propelled Miami on an epic 32-12 start to the deciding frame. The Heat got contributions from a bunch of players late, but Robinson got them going.ZeroDenver’s three-point defense No way Miami’s Max Strus and Caleb Martin were going to combine to go 1-of-11 from three-point range like in Game 1, but the Nuggets continued to give up way too many open looks from deep in Game 2, and this time it cost them. Denver coach Michael Malone warned against letting the Heat get going, but the Nuggets couldn’t stop it from happening. Strus got hot early, Gabe Vincent made 4-of-6 and the Heat hit 17 three-pointers to Denver’s 11. Good recipe for stealing a game on the road.PostcardHoops royaltyThere’s hoops royalty, and then...

PHOTOS: Denver Nuggets fall to Miami Heat 111-108 in Game 2 of NBA Finals

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

The Denver Nuggets hosted the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 4, 2023 at Ball Arena in Denver.Related ArticlesDenver Nuggets | Why Nuggets coach Michael Malone didn’t call timeout with NBA Finals Game 2 on the line Denver Nuggets | Heat catches fire from 3-point range to steal Game 2 of NBA Finals from Nuggets Denver Nuggets | Nuggets 3-pointers: Eric Spoelstra wisely elects to make Nikola Jokic a scorer in NBA Finals Game 2, not a distributor Denver Nuggets | WATCH: Nikola Jokic makes pretty touch pass to Aaron Gordon in Game 2 against Heat Denver Nuggets | Heat’s Tyler Herro “progressing” toward potential NBA Finals return, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra says Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.

Why Nuggets coach Michael Malone didn’t call timeout with NBA Finals Game 2 on the line

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

With 11 seconds remaining in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Bruce Brown pulled down a rebound after Jimmy Butler missed a jumper, giving the Nuggets an opportunity they had clawed several minutes for:A chance to tie the game.It was 111-108 Heat. Miami had led by as many as 12 late in the fourth quarter before a furious Denver rally, which culminated here.Nuggets coach Michael Malone elected to leave his two timeouts in his pocket.Instead of stopping the clock and advancing the ball, the Nuggets brought the ball up while time waned. The last possession resulted in a Jamal Murray step-back 3-point attempt, which rimmed out at the buzzer. The Heat tied the series 1-1 by handing the Nuggets their first home of the playoffs.“I think (the timeout decision) is dependent upon the situation,” Malone said when asked for an explanation. “Their half-court defense was giving us a lot of trouble in that fourth quarter. You can take a timeout, let them get set. You let them review wha...

Nuggets 3-pointers: Miami elects to make Nikola Jokic a scorer in NBA Finals Game 2, not a distributor

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

Initial observations from Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat at Ball Arena.1. Spo’s Joker decision: After Nikola Jokic sliced and diced the Heat with immaculate passes in Game 1, Eric Spoelstra decided to make Joker be a scorer instead of a distributor Sunday night. In the series opener, Jokic had six first-quarter assists before his first shot attempt and 10 assists vs. three shot attempts at halftime. In Game 2, he was 3-for-6 shooting with just one assist in the first eight minutes. Miami didn’t send help, living with one-on-one post matchups for most of the night. Bam Adebayo was serviceable. Cody Zeller was not. Jokic feasted on him in the third quarter, even calling for Bruce Brown to clear out late in the shot clock at one point. (He scored.) After an 18-point third, Jokic had 31 points on 23 field goal attempts but only three assists. Two of them were difficult oops, not because of Heat double-teams. Miami is cool with that &#...

Justin Combs, son of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, arrested for DUI near Beverly Hills 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

Justin Combs, the eldest son of rapper, producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Sunday morning near Beverly Hills for driving under the influence, TMZ reported.  The 29-year-old was reportedly stopped by police at around 8 a.m. after running a red light. “After a preliminary investigation, our sources tell us the cop felt there was enough probable cause to cuff him and haul him to jail on suspicion of driving under the influence,” the tabloid outlet wrote.  While it’s unclear if he remains in custody, the rapper’s son was charged with misdemeanor DUI and booked at the L.A. County Jail where his bail was set at $5,000. The younger Combs’ mother, Misa Hylton, is a notable stylist and fashion designer.  As for the elder Combs, Diddy made headlines last week after it was announced he was suing the spirit company Diageo for not making “promised investments in his vodka and tequila brands and treated them as inferior ‘urban’ products,” the Associated ...

Authorities seek information on man's death in Riverside County

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

Authorities with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced last week that they are seeking information from the public in connection with the death of an adult male in early February.Deputies from the Palm Desert Station responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call in the 69500 block of Dillon Road in Desert Hot Springs on Feb. 4.  At the location, authorities discovered a man identified as Solwyn Nelson suffering from traumatic injuries, an RCSO news release stated. Nelson was transported to a local hospital where he later died of his injuries.  Solwyn Nelson, seen here in this undated photo, died as result of injuries related to an assault with a deadly weapon incident in Desert Hot Springs on Feb. 4, 2023. (RCSO)No further details about what kinds of injuries the victim suffered or if authorities believe there may be more than one suspect involved in the incident were provided.  The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with informatio...

NBA Finals: Heat use fourth quarter rally to beat Nuggets, level series

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

DENVER — Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and the Miami Heat evened up the NBA Finals by overcoming a monster effort from Nikola Jokic to beat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 on Sunday night.Max Strus scored 14 and Duncan Robinson had 10 for the Heat, who had a big early lead, then got down by as many as 15 before reclaiming the lead in the fourth. Miami outscored Denver 36-25 in the final period, erasing an eight-point deficit going into the final frame.And even then, they had to dig deep to finish it off.Jokic scored 41 points and was 16 of 28 from the floor, the last of those shots a 4-footer with 36 seconds left to get the Nuggets within three.Denver elected not to foul on the ensuing Miami possession. Butler missed a 3, and with a chance to tie, Jamal Murray missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.Murray had 18 points and 10 assists for Denver, while Aaron Gordon had 12 points and Bruce Brown scored 11.Game 3 is Wednesday in Miami. Denver ha...

Heat roar back in fourth, beat Nuggets, 111-108, in Game 2 of NBA Finals

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

By TIM REYNOLDSDENVER — Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and the Miami Heat evened up the NBA Finals by overcoming a monster effort from Nikola Jokic to beat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 on Sunday night.Max Strus scored 14 and Duncan Robinson had 10 for the Heat, who had a big early lead, then got down by as many as 15 before reclaiming the lead in the fourth. Miami outscored Denver 36-25 in the final period, erasing an eight-point deficit going into the final frame.And even then, they had to dig deep to finish it off.Jokic scored 41 points and was 16 of 28 from the floor, the last of those shots a 4-footer with 36 seconds left to get the Nuggets within three.Denver elected not to foul on the ensuing Miami possession. Butler missed a 3, and with a chance to tie, Jamal Murray missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.Murray had 18 points and 10 assists for Denver, while Aaron Gordon had 12 points and Bruce Brown scored 11.Game 3 is Wednesday in M...

SUV crashes into business after losing control in Oakland street race: police

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:18:05 GMT

(KRON) -- A vehicle crashed into a business Sunday afternoon after it lost control in a street race, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) confirmed to KRON4. Around 3:15 p.m., an Acura SUV crashed into Wise Sons Jewish Deli located at 1700 Franklin Street. $10K worth of items stolen from El Cerrito dispensary in overnight burglary; 6 suspects at large Two vehicles were racing in the area, according to OPD. The Acura took out a fire hydrant after it lost control. The driver escaped before police arrived at the scene. OPD is investigating this crash as a hit-and-run, and no arrests have been made. No injuries have been reported at this time.This story will be updated.