LA Lakers begins quest to win the NBA championship for the first time in twelve years, as they breeze past Miami Heats 116-98 in the first game of the series held at Orlando.

Former Heats man Lebron James ended the game with 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, found ways to open-up Miami’s weaker defenders, backing them down for layups and drawing extra attention that led to kick-out passes to open shooters. Anthony Davis decisively won his matchup inside, hammering away in the paint to post 34 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Bam Adebayo who is one of the best players this season commited two fouls in the first quarter, and the floodgates opened when he was off the court. At halftime, Miami was -3 in 15 minutes with Adebayo and -20 in 9 minutes without Bam.

Their hope of making a comeback to large extent rest on his ability to even the matchup with Davis and solidify the Heat’s interior defense. Adebayo also departed for the locker room in the second half with a left shoulder strain.

Ahead of the second game of the series Miami Heats will need to bounce back, as it maybe difficult to turn things around once Lakers, extends lead to two.

Miami will need to lick its wounds and regain its balance, but it will need to emerge for Friday’s Game two with an entirely different approach. Small adjustments won’t be enough, not when James and the Lakers look like a juggernaut intent on ending this series as quickly as possible so they can leave the bubble behind them.

Advertisement