Back-to-back home losses in the NBA finals have placed the Heat in a dire position, with the East’s No. 8 seed now needing to, again, climb out of a 3–1 hole to defeat the Nuggets, the top team in the West this season.
To some, the double-digit defeats, which saw Miami trail by as much as 21 and 17 points, respectively, seemingly closed the door on a team billed as a heavy underdog coming into the series. But, while the odds and momentum appear firmly in Denver’s favor, two of the Heat’s veterans warned those ready to write Miami off to tread lightly.
Forward Udonis Haslem and guard Kyle Lowry delivered fiery comments on the team’s underdog label following Friday’s 108–95 Game 4 loss. Both players passionately dismissed a narrative suggesting there’s a talent gap between the teams due to Miami relying on undrafted players and key rotation pieces Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson and Max Strus.
