Guard saves Miami by taking over for Butler, but how far can he go in free agency?
Vincent saved the day.
The Miami Heat defeated the Denver Nuggets 111-108 in Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals on Friday night at the Mile High City’s Ball Arena.
Contrary to expectations that this would be a one-sided series, Miami seized Game 2 to even the score. The fact that they didn’t head home with the pressure of a second straight loss was a very satisfying Game 2 result for Miami.스포츠토토
Miami were on the ropes after being swept in game one. Game 2 was no different, but the Heat battled back to overturn a 15-point deficit. In the process, it was Gabe Vincent, not Jimmy Butler, who kept the team afloat in the number one option role.
Scoring evenly throughout the game, Vincent did his part, finishing with a team-high 23 points. He drained four three-pointers and used his excellent jumper to great effect in the mid-range. Combining volume with efficiency, Vincent shot a solid 66.7 per cent (8-of-12) from the field.
As Vincent, Duncan Robinson and Max Strasburg carried the team, the silent ace Butler responded in the fourth quarter. Butler, who hadn’t been at his best, scored a string of crucial points as his team made a run after the midway point of the fourth quarter.
After the game, Vincent was asked about his team’s undervaluation and said, “I think I speak for the whole team when I say we don’t care about that kind of talk. We just want to win four finals. We don’t think about other things at all.”
“It’s just part of our DNA,” he said of the team’s struggles throughout the playoffs. As you know, everyone on this team has been knocked down in one way or another and had to get back up and overcome adversity in one way or another. And we have a lot of experience in games like this. So we feel comfortable when it comes to those experiences.”
The contributions of the undrafted players have been a big part of Miami’s success in the playoffs. Vincent, who is averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 assists, and 41.3 per cent shooting from three-point range in the playoffs, is no exception.
With the scoring and ball-handling ability to put up 20+ points a game when given the opportunity, Vincent is also a solid defender. In the second round against New York, he played some impressive defence on opposing ace Jaylen Brunson. Born in 1996, he is young and has a lot of versatility in the backcourt.
At this rate, Vincent is sure to get a lot of attention in free agency after the season. The Athletic”s Shams Carania has already predicted that “Gabe Vincent, who will be an unrestricted free agent, will be in high demand as a starter as well as a resource off the bench”.
After averaging 21.0 points in the first two games of the Finals, will Vincent continue his hot streak in Game 3? Game 3 between the two teams will take place on the 8th at Miami’s home turf, the Casey Center.