The Lakers won Game 1 of the NBA Finals in emphatic fashion, leading by as many as 32 points before cruising to a 116-98 victory. Here are three things to know heading into Friday night’s Game 2:
HEAT SUFFER KEY INJURIES Miami lost two of its top three players over the course of Game 1. Point guard Goran Dragic left in the second quarter after 15 minutes of playing time, during which he scored six points on 3 of 8 shooting with three assists and two steals. Then in the third quarter, they lost Bam Adebayo after his 21 minutes of foul-plagued action, resulting in eight points on 2 of 8 shooting with four rebounds.
On Thursday, Miami announced that Dragic is doubtful to play in Game 2 with a torn plantar fascia (left foot), while Bam is doubtful with a neck strain.
As with any team missing key players, this is a major blow for Miami. In 16 playoff games, Dragic and Adebayo were averaging a combined 37.7 points, 14.9 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 69.3 minutes. Backup point guard Kendrick Nunn, who averaged only 12.4 minutes in 10 playoff games, will surely see his minutes hiked. Nunn was impactful in garbage time of Game 1, scoring 18 quick points in 20 minutes. Miami’s answer for Bam’s essential spot as the starting center through whom they can run the offense is harder to find. Meyers Leonard, a 7-footer who shot 41.4 percent from three, has played only nine minutes in the playoffs, but did start 49 regular season games. Kelly Olynyk will surely see more minutes as another big who can hit threes (40.6 percent in the regular season, 29.4 percent in playoffs), though both guys struggle to stay with players like LeBron on the perimeter in switching situations.