LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The NBA Finals have come down to this: The Lakers are the smartest student in the class, they’ve already lined up post-graduation plans, and they’re taking what looked like an easy class for their final credits. Jimmy Butler is the old-school teacher who won’t let them get out until they earn their A.
Butler did not win Game 3 for the Miami Heat entirely by himself, but as teammate Tyler Herro said, “He did everything, obviously.” Everything included 40 points (on 20 shots!), 11 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals and two blocks in 45 minutes of making the Lakers wish they had showed up ready for the test.