Miami has struggled to win two straight games deep in the playoffs, which comes as a surprise to a team that recorded the second-longest winning streak of all-time in the regular season.
The Heat are looking for their second consecutive NBA title after compiling a league-best 66-16 record which included a 27-game winning streak.
But the Heat now have 11 alternating wins and losses in these playoffs, including trading the first four games of the NBA finals with the San Antonio Spurs to reach 2-2 in the best-of-seven championship series.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says it’s an indication of how evenly matched the Heat and Spurs are.
“It’s not as if we have never won two in a row,” Spoelstra said during Saturday’s practice at the AT&T Center. “Our guys understand what’s at hand and what’s at stake right now.
“You do have to give credit to the competition both ways. When you get to this level, it’s tough to win two games in a row against an equal opponent.
