2020 NBA Finals: Jimmy Butler Powers Miami Heat To 115-104 Win Over LA Lakers In Game 3, Draws Praise From All Quarters

A comeback victory for Miami Heat, who have been dubbed as the underdogs against their much fancied opponents and Western Conference Champions LA Lakers, meant that they pulled back one win in the best of 7-game series after losing the opening two games to the Lakers .

Miami Heat All Star Forward Jimmy Butler (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Miami Heat defeated LA Lakers 115-104 to win Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals played in Orlando, Florida on Monday Morning (India Time). A comeback victory for Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat, who have been dubbed as the underdogs against their much fancied opponents and Western Conference Champions LA Lakers, meant that they pulled back one win in the best of 7-game series after losing the opening two games to the Lakers . In the absence of their star players Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic for the second straight game, Heat's gritty win was spearheaded by Jimmy Butler who topped the scoring charts for them by racking up 40 points. 2020 NBA Finals: Jimmy Butler Scores 40 Points To Star In Miami Heat's 115-114 Win Over LA Lakers Butler notched up a triple double with 13 assists and 11 rebounds. The Miami Heat All Star Forward also happened to be the third player in NBA history to register the 40-point triple-double in the Finals.

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Jimmy Butler's (40 PTS, 11 REB, 13 AST) big night guides the @MiamiHEAT to victory in Game 3! LAL leads series 2-1. Game 4: Tuesday - 9pm/et, ABC #NBAFinals Kelly Olynyk: 17 PTS, 3 3PM Tyler Herro: 17 PTS, 2 3PM LeBron James: 25 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST pic.twitter.com/95lAVhsBWG — NBA (@NBA) October 5, 2020

Rookie sensation Tyler Herro and reserve Kendrick Nunn contributed to the Heat's win by scoring 17 points apiece. Duncan Robinson scored 13 points and Jae Crowder chipped in 12 for Miami Heat. “I think we realized that we belong, They can be beat, as long as we do what we’re supposed to do.” Butler said after Heat's win over the Lakers in Game 3 in the NBA Finals. "I go to war for those guys because whenever they're out there, they're going to war with and for me," added Butler.

Jimmy Butler's historic 40-point triple-double in Game 3 makes it a 2-1 series in the #NBAFinals! #SAPStatLineOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/idpZpYdbIc

— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) October 5, 2020

Lebron James once again was impressive as he racked up 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assist to outshine his Laker compatriots. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis who has been in some scintillating form in the opening two games, could just manage 15 points and five rebounds as he was in foul trouble in the early stages of the defeat against Miami. Jimmy Butler's all-round showing against LA Lakers won him a lot of praise and admiration from not only his peers and the coaching staff at Miami Heat but also from the opposition camp. “He did everything that they needed him to do tonight and he came through big-time in a big-time game,” Lebron James appreciated Jimmy Butler's all-round efforts after the LA Lakers had to endure an upset defeat. "How else do you say it other than Jimmy F'ing Butler?" Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game. "This is what he wanted; this is what we wanted. It's really hard to analyze or describe Jimmy, until you actually feel him between the four lines. He is a supreme, elite competitor." "He's always been the type of guy you can depend on," said Heat forward Jae Crowder, who also was Butler's college teammate at Marquette. "Whatever you need -- not just scoring. He can get a big rebound or big foul or big charge. Whatever you need him to do, he'll come through."

Brate @JimmyButler showed today why he is the leader and the heart of this team !!! ???????????? https://t.co/wBJsfI1Hav

— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) October 5, 2020

Here are some of the major reactions by top NBA players on Jimmy Butler's stellar showing in Miami Heat's win over LA Lakers In Game 3 Of NBA Finals

Talk yo sh*t JIMMY!!!!

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) October 5, 2020

Damn Jimmy really like that. I thought for sure a ????was coming. Bruh really went to work work

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) October 5, 2020

Truly a masterpiece from Jimmy

— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) October 5, 2020

Inspiring

— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 5, 2020