After winning all three of their previous Game 1 encounters in the NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat finally lost the series opener for the first time on Thursday against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Jimmy Butler and Co. weren't really able to get themselves going in this one, and it resulted in a lopsided win for the home team, 104-93.

In spite of the deflating loss, however, Jimmy Butler remains unfazed. The Heat talisman delivered a strong message to his teammates after their Game 1 defeat as they now look to bounce back on Sunday night:

“I'm always gonna pass the ball to my teammates,” Butler said, via NBA beat reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “I have so much belief and faith in them that they're going to take and make shots. If they can't they're gonna make the next play. That's how we played all year long, that's not gonna change now that we're in the Finals.”

It's on to the next one for Butler and the Heat. It was an undeniably tough loss for them in Game 1, but this series is far from over. Butler remains extremely confident in himself and his teammates, and this isn't going to change anytime soon.

For his part, though, Butler knows that he will need to be much better in Game 2. He is well aware of his shortcomings in the series opener, and since this is Jimmy Butler we're talking about here, it would be a surprise if he doesn't come out with a bounce-back performance on Sunday night:

“Maybe I gotta be a little more aggressive,” Butler said. “I gotta put pressure on the rim. Me with no free throws, that was all on myself. Nobody else. We're gonna correct than next game, but only I can do that.”

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