Sunday night's Game 3 of the NBA Finals feels like a must-win for the Heat if they're to have any shot at coming back against the Lakers.
Miami showed a little more fight in Game 2 on Friday after a Game 1 blowout despite missing veteran point guard Goran Dragic and blossoming All-Star big man Bam Adebayo, but they have yet to truly push the Lakers in the series. Dragic and Adebayo are again listed as doubtful for Game 3, which means Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will have his hands full once more as he tries to concoct a plan to slow down the so-far indomitable LA tandem of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Davis has been phenomenal; he posted 34 points and nine rebounds in Game 1 and then followed that up with 32 points and 14 rebounds in Game 2. James hasn't been any slouch, either; he finished one assist shy of a triple-double in Game 1 with 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, and then put up 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Game 2. So far, the only tension in this series has been which Lakers star will win Finals MVP.
MORE: Watch the NBA Finals live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
That being said, it's still too early to count out the Heat. As they showed in coming out of the Eastern Conference as a No. 5 seed, they're a true underdog team that has thrived on adversity. Jimmy Butler has played all right in the first two games with 23 points in Game 1 and 25 points and 13 assists in Game 2, but he has another gear. If he can find it, and if someone like Tyler Herro can get red-hot like he did when he scored 37 points against the Celtics in Game 4 of the East finals, then the Heat will have a puncher's chance.
All they need to do is stay within striking distance, and if they can manage to squeak past the Lakers in Game 3, then they can hope to have Adebayo and Dragic back for Game 4.
Here is a complete guide to watching Lakers vs. Heat in Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals, including the start time, how to live stream and a full TV schedule for the series.
What channel is Lakers vs. Heat on?
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: WatchESPN, fuboTV
Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Heat tips off Sunday on ABC. There are several streaming options for people on the go who are unable to access cable TV, including WatchESPN and fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
What time does Lakers vs. Heat start?
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 of the NBA Finals is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 4, from inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. As has been the case throughout the playoffs, there will not be any fans in attendance outside of select guests of players.
How to live stream NBA Finals games
It's easy for cable subscribers to stream the NBA Finals by signing into WatchESPN on any device. For everyone else, the process is more complicated.
There are several OTT TV streaming options that carry ABC, including fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. They all require signups through their respective websites. Of those services, fuboTV, Hulu and YouTubeTV offer free-trial options.
Below are links to each live streaming option for Game 3 of Lakers vs. Heat.
- fubo TV (free trial)
- Sling
- Hulu (free trial)
- YouTube TV (free trial)
- AT&T Now
NBA Finals schedule 2020
| Date | Game | Time | National TV | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30 | Game 1 | 9 p.m. | ABC | Lakers 116, Heat 98 |
| Oct. 2 | Game 2 | 9 p.m. | ABC | Lakers 124, Heat 114 |
| Oct. 4 | Game 3 | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | — |
| Oct. 6 | Game 4 | 9 p.m. | ABC | — |
| Oct. 9 | Game 5* | 9 p.m. | ABC | — |
| Oct. 11 | Game 6* | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | — |
| Oct. 13 | Game 7* | 9 p.m. | ABC | — |
*If necessary