Michigan Basketball: Duncan Robinson sparks NBA Finals comeback
Former Michigan basketball standout Duncan Robinson made his presence felt in the NBA finals with 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Heat rallied.
When the fourth quarter started in Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat trailed by eight points and former Michigan basketball standout Duncan Robinson hadn’t scored.
Therefore, if I told you that Robinson would score 10 of the Heat’s 36 points and Miami rallied to even the series up with the Denver Nuggets at 1-1, it might seem a little far-fetched.
But that’s exactly what happened. Duncan Robinson helped Miami get going quickly in the fourth quarter with two 3-point shots — the sort that Michigan basketball fans have come to get familiar with — especially if they have followed his career with the Heat.
Two 3-pointers from Robinson and 10 points total from the Michigan basketball alum in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter set the stage for Miami to charge back for the 111-108 win.
When the fourth quarter opened, the Heat trailed by eight when Robinson drilled a triple to cut the lead to five. He scored 10 of the first 13 points in all and when he connected on his final hoop after a back cut, the Heat went from down eight to up three.
Jimmy Butler pretty much took it from there. Robinson dropped one assist to Butler on a 3-pointer and Miami never gave the lead up again. The series is now tied 1-1 with Game 3 set for Wednesday in Miami.
The Heat were able to win a game in the previous trip to the NBA Finals against the Lakers, but winning one or two of the games in Miami will be essential if the Heat want to go from play-in tournament participant to NBA champions.
It’s wild to think that the Chicago Bulls led for most of that second play-in game against Miami before Butler took over and eliminated his former team. Robinson barely even played and Miami was as close to elimination that night as they have been the rest of the NBA playoffs.
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We’ll see if the Heat can keep it going, but you know one thing: Michigan basketball fans everywhere are cheering the clutch shooting of Duncan Robinson.