Heat rally for Game 2 win over Nuggets to even series, spoil Nikola Jokic’s 41 points
![](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/newspress-collage-27344895-1685932639682.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1685918358&w=1024)
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.
![Jimmy Butler drives to the rims against Nikola Jokic during the Heat's Game 2 win over the Nuggets on June 4.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012209946.jpg?w=1024)
![Nikola Jokic finished with 41 points in the Nuggets' Game 2 loss to the Heat on June 4.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012209331.jpg?w=1024)
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.
![Caleb Martin scores during the Heat's Game 2 win over the Nuggets on June 4.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/NYPICHPDPICT000012206389.jpg?w=1024)
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 had been 11-0 with a double-digit lead in the playoffs.
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