Author: Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

Jimmy Butler was magnificent with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to lead the Heat to a 115-104 win in Game 3 to cut the Lakers’ lead to 2-1.

With the Lakers up 2-0 in the NBA Finals, the Heat’s best chance to recover might be with zone defense coming together and slowing LA’s offense.

LeBron James scored 33 points and Anthony Davis had 32 as the Lakers handled the depleted Heat for a 124-114 win and 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Bam Adebayo (neck) and Goran Dragic (foot) will miss Game 2, leaving the Heat down two starters as they try to even the NBA Finals against the Lakers.

Just three days after parting ways with the Los Angeles Clippers, coach Doc Rivers will join Philadelphia as the new Sixers coach.

The Lakers cruised past the Heat, which saw starters Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic exit early with injuries, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Jimmy Butler is the leader Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra thought he could be when they recruited him with a four-year deal with the Miami Heat.

Doc Rivers had the Clippers on track to face the Lakers in the conference finals before the team collapsed against the Nuggets.

Bam Adebayo was an All-Star this season, but he took his game up across the board to help the Heat beat the Celtics and advance to the NBA Finals.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley was arrested on charges of marijuana possession and receiving/concealing stolen property.