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The Miami Heat shocked the basketball world on Sunday, as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. This was thanks in large part to a tremendous performance by Heat superstar Jimmy Butler, who himself sent a warning for L.A. about the potential return of Bam Adebayo.
In his post-game interview, Butler teased the media about Adebayo possibly coming back for Game 4 on Tuesday:
Jimmy Butler on Heat’s defense in Game 3 win over Lakers: “We made a lot of things difficult for them. … I think it’s going to be even better when we get Bam (Adebayo) back.” pic.twitter.com/lL9ZvXqueK
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 5, 2020
Adebayo has been dealing with a shoulder/neck injury, which has cost him the past two games of the series. While the Heat put out an admirable especially in Game 3 on Sunday, there is no denying that they have missed the services of their All-Star big man.
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To be clear, however, there has been no firm timetable for Adebayo's return. It is unclear if he will be available for Tuesday's pivotal Game 4 matchup, but this did not stop Jimmy Butler from playing a few mind games against their opponents.
For his part, Butler was absolutely amazing In Game 3, finishing with his first playoffs triple-double of his career. He logged a game-high 40 points on 14-of-20 shooting, to go along with 11 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks. The 31-year-old was playing like a man on a mission on Sunday, as he willed a shorthanded Miami side to an unlikely victory against the mighty Lakers.
Regardless if Adebayo will be available for Game 4 or not, Butler will need to be at his very best yet again. He has proven to be Miami's best player throughout the playoffs, and more will be asked of him the rest of the way if he hopes to give his team a chance against a heavily-favored Lakers squad.
