‘We made history’: What was behind Heat’s historically low free-throw total in Game 1 of Finals?
The Miami Heat’s unexpected playoff run to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed has been filled with historic moments. There was another one in Game 1 of the Finals.
“We made history,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said following Thursday night’s 104-93 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena to open the best-of-7 championship series.
It just wasn’t the type of history that the Heat wanted to be a part of.
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Miami shot just two free throws in the Game 1 loss, setting an NBA record for the fewest free-throw attempts by a team in a playoff game. It’s also the fewest free throws the Heat has attempted in any game in franchise history.
“I didn’t even realize it was two free throws only, and it was only my two free throws,” said Heat forward Haywood Highsmith, who took those shots with 10:54 left in the second quarter. “So that was pretty interesting. I think we were aggressive, but we did shoot a lot of jump shots because we were open. It’s weird having two free throws. I’ve never seen that before.”
As a result, the Nuggets outscored the Heat 16-2 at the foul line in Game 1.
The Heat tried to stay away from blaming the referees for that discrepancy, instead taking responsibility for its historically low free-throw total.
“You have to credit them with their size and really protecting the paint and bringing a third defender,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Things have to be done with a lot more intention and a lot more pace, a lot more detail. We are an aggressive, attacking team, and so if we are not getting those kind of opportunities at the rim or at the free -throw line, we have to find different ways to be able to do it.”
The Heat’s leading duo of Adebayo and Jimmy Butler combined for zero free throws in a game for the first time in their four seasons as teammates.
Butler entered the Finals averaging 9.1 free-throw attempts per game during this year’s playoffs. Thursday marked just the seventh game he has not shot a free throw in since joining the Heat prior to the 2019-20 season.
“I’ve got to put pressure on the rim,” Butler said. “Me with no free throws, that was all on myself, nobody else. So we’ll definitely correct that the next game, but only I can do that.”
Adebayo entered the Finals averaging 4.1 free-throw attempts per game during this year’s playoffs. Thursday was the second time this postseason that he has closed a game with no free-throw attempts.
The Heat, as a team, entered the Finals averaging 21 free-throw attempts per game.
“If I do say something, will you take the fine?” Adebayo said to a reporter when asked about the officiating in Game 1. “I just feel like we can’t even get into that. You know, we can’t let them dictate the game. I just feel like we took a lot of jump shots, and we missed a lot of them instead of getting to the basket.”
There were a bunch of different factors behind the Heat’s offensive struggles in the opening game of the Finals. But not getting to the foul line was a major one.
“Our game plan was trying not to foul,” Nuggets guard Bruce Brown said. “We know they’re going to pump fake a lot. Jimmy is great at it. Gabe [Vincent] has been doing it. Bam has been doing it. So just trying to get our hands in the air and jump for everything.”
THE HIGHSMITH MINUTES
Highsmith again provided quality minutes for the Heat off the bench on Thursday.
Highsmith, who has been in and out of the rotation this postseason, finished Game 1 of the Finals with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 shooting from three-point range and two steals in 23 minutes. He even spent 15 possessions as the primary defender on Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray.
“This is the ultimate stage, the Finals,” said Highsmith, who tied his NBA career-high with 18 points on Thursday. “I’ve been prepared for it. I’ve been working at this my whole life. I’m built for this. The ups and downs through the season I’ve been through and the ups and downs I’ve been through in my career, I’m ready to go and I’m built for this.”
Highsmith’s length at 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan will be useful against the Nuggets’ size.
“That’s what we need from everybody, regardless of when you come into the game, how many minutes you’re getting, those inspiring minutes,” Spoelstra said when asked about Highsmith’s Game 1 performance. “And that’s what our team is about, having a roster of guys that just come out there and you’re making great efforts, you’re impacting the game and then it inspires the next guy to do it. We need more of those kind of things. He’s kept himself ready, and those are good minutes, for sure.”
▪ The Heat and Nuggets took Friday off before again taking part in an NBA Finals media day on Saturday at Ball Arena. Game 2 is Sunday in Denver (8 p.m., ABC).
