| |
|
2020 NBA Finals -- Lakers run away with Game 1
By Ricardo Carbajal PhilBoxing.com Thu, 01 Oct 2020

LOS ANGELES -- Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals turned out to be a cakewalk, not a competition, for the mighty Los Angeles Lakers.
In his first Finals appearance in his young eight-year NBA career, Anthony Davis sparkled with 34 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks. LeBron James added 25 points, 13 boards and nine dimes and the Lakers coasted to a one-sided 116-98 triumph.
After trailing 25-12 at the 4:21 mark of the opening quarter, the Lakers went on a sizzling 53-23 run to take a 17-point lead at halftime. The Heat never recovered from the onslaught inside the Orlando bubble at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Besides their two superstars, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 13 points for L.A. while veteran Danny Green, who has won championships with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, chipped in 11 on the strength of three triples.
"They smacked us in the mouth and we got a sense of that. From that moment when it was 23-10, we played to our capabilties," LeBron, this season's MVP runner-up, told the Associated Press.
In gunning for its 17th title in franchise history, the Lakers sure did turn the engines on.
They shot 45.2 percent from the field (38-of-84) and 39.5 percent from 3-point range (15-of-38). They also outrebounded Miami, 54-36, and had more assists, 26-23.
Miami, meanwhile, couldn't find that range that got them in this stage, missing 51 of 89 field goals (42.7 percent) and making only 11 of 35 treys (31.4 percent).
Despite spraining his ankle badly in the second quarter, Jimmy Butler stayed in the contest and finished with 23 points to lead the Heat. Compounding Miami's woes were the injuries sustained to starters Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic, who both left Game 1 and didn't return to action.
Game 2 is Friday night.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ricardo Carbajal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canelo vs Benavidez on Cinco De Mayo 2027? Maybe. By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 11 Jul 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev drives global combat sports expansion with historic wrestling partnership with RAF , Sat, 11 Jul 2026July 14th Fight Card Featuring Hasim Rahman Moved to Tuesday, August 18th at ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York , Sat, 11 Jul 2026Sem Japet Enano scores another Upset in Brisbane, Stops Tyler Blizzard in 7th , Fri, 10 Jul 2026WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight champion Gabriel Santisima set to defend title tomorrow in Malungon, Sarangani Province , Fri, 10 Jul 2026BiYu Promotions Launches "Fights Under the Lights" with Star-Studded Card Featuring the Return of the Grandy Twins , Fri, 10 Jul 2026Full card set for ProBoxTV on July 18 in San Bernardino , Fri, 10 Jul 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev promises world-class spectacle ahead of IBA PRO 19 showdown , Fri, 10 Jul 2026Ataev-Uzcategui WBA title eliminator officials named By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 10 Jul 2026GM Joey Antonio is set to defend his titles at the upcoming sixth Gov. Henry S.Oaminal Chess Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 10 Jul 2026Triple title header in UKC slugfest on July 12 By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 09 Jul 2026Coming soon Chávez vs Chávez new documentary TV series By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 09 Jul 2026ANDY RUIZ JR. PENS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM , Thu, 09 Jul 2026US based NM OJ Reyes eyes another title By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 09 Jul 2026Legane fights on August 2 in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Jul 2026"The Greatest" Muhammad Ali biographical mini series to stream on Prime Video starting November 4 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Jul 2026Ramon Cardenas-Leonardo Carrillo, plus two more 10-round fights added to Lester Martinez-Luka Plantic card , Wed, 08 Jul 202656th Annual NABF Convention Concludes with Resounding Success in Savannah, Georgia By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Jul 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev: IOC had no choice but to accept lifting the restrictions on Russian athletes , Wed, 08 Jul 2026Martin dares Inoue, Casimero By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 07 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 JULY 2026: Abdullah Mason Stops Albert Bell in 12; Carrington Outpoints Palacios; Wins by Mossely, Sadjo, El Hadri. By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Jul 2026Quiñonero to fight again on August 28 By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 07 Jul 2026MannyPay Global Launches U.S. Merchant Processing Division to Help Small Businesses Lower Payment Costs and Accelerate Growth , Tue, 07 Jul 2026Murat Gassiev to face Peter Kadiru for the WBA Heavyweight world title , Tue, 07 Jul 2026Bansilan, Tan rule Faith Run , Tue, 07 Jul 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|