NBA Finals 2020 Game 5: Player Ratings for Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat

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#Finals game 5

The Miami Heat survive, forcing a Game 6 behind yet another herculean game by All-Star Jimmy Butler. Duncan Robinson stole some of the limelight as well with his lights-out shooting as a total of six Heat players finished in double figures in their 111-108 Game 5 victory. 

Meanwhile, for the Lakers, their All-Stars - LeBron James and Anthony Davis - led from the front, put up huge numbers but the duo didn't receive as much help from their supporting cast as it did in previous games.

That said, here's a quick look at the player ratings from this amazing Game 5: 

Jimmy Butler - 10

For the second game in these Finals, Jimmy Butler barely put a foot wrong. Playing a game-high 47:11 minutes, he recorded his second Finals triple-double with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists on an incredible shooting efficiency of 11-of-19 shooting from the field. 

He is now the sixth player in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles in a Finals series. He is only the second player since steals started getting tracked in 1973-74 to have a 30-point triple-double with five steals.

Playing all but 47 minutes, nearly all of those as the team's primary ball handler, Butler only turned the ball over thrice while going a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line. He did look fatigued late and wasn't as effective in pockets of the fourth quarter but went toe-to-toe with LeBron James for a couple of possessions down the stretch to keep the Heat ahead. 

In the clutch - game within five under five minutes - the Heat outscored the Lakers 15-9 with Butler himself accounting for 11.

 

LeBron James - 9.5

The Heat led by as many as 11 but every time, and there were quite a few such instances, that the Heat looked like running away with the game, James would knock down a 3-pointer and keep it close. 

He finished with a Finals career-high six 3-pointers on just nine attempts (66.7%). His monstrous final stat line read 40 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals on 15-of-21 (71.4%) shooting from the field in 42 minutes of play. 

Anthony Davis - 9

AD had another big game, on both ends of the floor. Also playing 42 minutes, he stuffed the stat sheet, recording 28 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. 

LeBron and AD both balled out in this one but didn't receive as much as help from their reserves as they did in the previous game.

Important to note, Davis finished with those numbers while re-aggravating a right heel contusion, that was bothered him for quite a significant portion of the game.

Duncan Robinson - 8.5

There was bound to be one-game Duncan Robinson was going to go off and with their backs against the wall, it couldn't have come at a better time. Robinson went off for a playoff career-high 26 points, knocking down a playoff career-high seven 3-pointers on 13 attempts.

His seven makes from beyond the arc, the second time he's made that many this postseason, are a franchise record. The rest of the players in Heat history have only recorded two such games.

KCP - 8

KCP

For a second straight game, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the third-best player for the Lakers. He led the supporting cast with 16 points and yet again, seemed to knock down key shots that swung momentum and kept the Lakers in the game. 

Kendrick Nunn - 8

Rookie guard Kendrick Nunn provided the Miami Heat with a spark off the bench in this game, especially in the first half. Miami's reserves were being outplayed in the series so far but in a shortened rotation, Nunn stepped up. 

In 17 first-half minutes, he had 11 points, two rebounds, and two assists while recording a game-high plus-minus of +9. He eventually finished with 14 for the game but 

Bam Adebayo - 7

For a second straight game since returning from injury, Bam Adebayo helped the Heat with his presence, especially defensively, but he's certainly look back at this game with a lot of regrets.

The All-Star finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 37 minutes but it seemed like he was not as aggressive with his finishes around the rim. His 5-of-12 shooting from the field showed what seemed like a  lack of assertiveness on his part, and it could be shoulder/neck bothering him but he's got to find another way to be effective then. 

Given how the Heat have been playing over the last three games, if Adebayo provides some scoring - at least making the makeable ones - Miami can keep this series going. Their comeback will continue in Game 6 which is set for Monday, October 12th at 5:00 a.m. IST. 

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