TheDenver Nuggetsran the Miami Heat off the court in the first game of the NBA Finals.
It seemed like things could get ugly for Erik Spoelstra s team in the remainder of the series, and some fans and analysts were already talking about a potential sweep.
The Nuggets then jumped to a double-digit lead in Game 2, and it all pointed toward another blowout.
The Heat then found ways to come back behind Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, and even Cody Zeller, eventually tying the series up with one win apiece.
THE HEAT TIE UP THE FINALS HEADING TO MIAMI @MiamiHEAT | #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/aQXUyOvw4i
ESPN (@espn) June 5, 2023
Needless to say, fans online had plenty to say about it.
Did Denver finally get the message with that first home loss? This is not the Wolves, Suns and Lakers, this is #HeatCULTURE
Mace (@Mace_17_1983) June 5, 2023
The team that beat two contenders in the bucks and Celtics is good? Wow shocking
(@Mo_Tamanna) June 5, 2023
Miami is Americas team
Marlon M. Farid (@MarleyyBoyy) June 5, 2023
I was told the series was over after game 1
Glen Zariczny (@glenz_27) June 5, 2023
Where s the sweep I kept hearing about? Casual fans were getting pretty disrespectful this entire postseason
ryan (@Rygu36) June 5, 2023
The Heat might not look like the kind of team that should even be there, yet they continue to find multiple ways of getting their wins right out of the mud.
They don t have superstars, but it feels like there s always someone ready to step up and take over when it matters the most.
It s been Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, and even Duncan Robinson.
They ll now get Tyler Herro back on the floor for the remainder of the NBA Finals, and getting their second-leading scorer back at this point in the year could be key to their success.
Of course, one could expect the Nuggets to be heavily favored and get home-court advantage back with at least a win in the next two games in South Florida.
But the Heat continue to make history, and it s time people finally show them some respect.