• MILITARY: Brazil-France submarine programme (Graphic DUE Mar 28, 15:00GMT)
  • SPACE: Calls for protected moon sites (Graphic DUE Mar 28, 16:00GMT)
  • ACCIDENT: Why did Baltimore bridge collapse? (Graphic DUE Mar 28, 17:30GMT)
  • For full details of graphics available/in preparation, see Menu -> Planners
Graphic shows route to NBA finals, head-to-head record and comparison between star players LeBron James and Jimmy Butler.
GN40622NL

BASKETBAL

NBA play-offs 2020

By Chris Dinsdale

September 30, 2020 - October 13, 2020 - The NBA Finals get underway, a best-of-seven playoff between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat, the champion teams of the NBA’s Western and Eastern conferences.

LeBron James, formerly Heat’s “Most Valuable Player”, appears in his 10th NBA Finals, leading the Los Angeles Lakers against a resurgent Miami team inspired by the mercurial Jimmy Butler.

Los Angeles are aiming to equal the Boston Celtics’ record haul of 17 championships. After posting a 52-19 win/loss record in regular season play – qualifying for the Florida showpiece as No.1 seed in the Western Conference – the Lakers secured play-off series victories over Portland, Houston and Denver to secure their first NBA Finals berth since 2010.

Miami Heat are looking to win their fourth championship title, after hoisting the trophy in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Seeded No.5 in the Eastern Conference, Heat started the play-offs with an emphatic 4-0 series win over Indiana, before wins against Milwaukee and Boston.

The pair have met 64 times in NBA history, with the Lakers winning 37 matches to Heat’s 27, including their current four-match winning steak.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 28/09/2020; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
Advertisement