2020 NBA Finals: Miami Heat takes on LA Lakers and other action live on DStv

There is a lot of thrills and spills from the world’s best basketball league for fans this weekend as ESPN 2 brings live action from the 2019-20 National Basketball Association (NBA) season from Friday 2 to Thursday 8 October 2020.

The first live match available to viewers this week arrives on the morning of Saturday October 3, as the Miami Heat takes on the LA Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals (02:00 am LIVE on ESPN 2).

Games 3 and 4 will follow on the morning of Monday October 5 and Wednesday October 7 respectively (both 02:00am LIVE on ESPN 2).

The Lakers will be delighted at coming through their Western Conference Final series against the plucky Denver Nuggets as they seek a first Championship since claiming their 16th crown back in 2010. Both coach Frank Vogel and star man Anthony Davis were full of praise for the incomparable LeBron James, who dominated the Nuggets’ dangerous Jamal Murray.

“LeBron asked for the assignment and obviously, I granted it. He did a great job down the stretch… Nothing was really working to slow him down until LeBron took that assignment, so game ball to him,” Vogel explained.

“I think he [LeBron] just loves the challenges, honestly. Especially late game… He loves to take on those challenges and make them score over him,” Davis said. “He’s a great defensive player. He did a hell of a job…He wants that one-on-one challenge, and he did a hell of a job.”

James himself said his phenomenal individual performance on Sunday morning to close out the series against the Nuggets was all about ending the opponent’s resistance as early as possible.

“In a closeout game, I’m just as desperate as the team we’re trying to close out. I don’t want to play another game in the series. I’m not undefeated in closeout games but my mindset is: I do not want to play another game,” said the 35-year-old.

The Miami Heat, meanwhile, wrapped up the Eastern Conference Final on Monday 28 September, overcoming the Boston Celtics 125-113 to win the series 4-2. They are chasing a fourth championship overall and a first since 2013.

The Heat’s Bam Adebayo was the driving force behind their Game 6 series-ending triumph, with coach Erik Spoelstra saying: “Bam’s one of the great competitors already in this association. He’s going to become one of the great winners in history. He moves the needle in every single way.”

And 23-year-old Adebayo, who was born to a Nigerian father and American mother in New Jersey, believes the Heat’ togetherness will serve them well in the Finals against the Lakers: “The thing that makes this team so special is we really kick it with each other. We really hang out. I feel like that’s the best thing.”

Visit www.dstvafrica.com to subscribe or upgrade and join in on the excitement. And while you’re on the move, you can stream the action on DStv Now.