Ranking the top Finals performances from Miami Heat role players

4. Mike Miller, Game 5 of 2012 Finals

The Heat headed into Game 5 with a 3-1 lead and had an opportunity to win their second title against the young and supremely talented Oklahoma City Thunder. Before Game 5, the most minutes Miller played was in Game 1, in which he was on the court for only 10 minutes. In his short stints, Miller only attempted three 3-pointers and five shots in total.

Throughout the 2012 playoff run, Miller was dealing with back pain that made Miller contemplate retirement. In a conversation with Bleacher Report, Miller provided insight on what he was dealing with along with his thoughts during that time.

"“When it started getting to the point where the pain was down my leg and I had a hard time feeling my right leg, that’s when I really considered retirement. I was honest and open about it, and I told the Heat after the finals ‘If I feel like I’m a liability, I don’t care how much money is left on my contract.’”"

Even with the injuries and self-doubt, in a series-clinching game, Miller was the furthest thing from a liability. Miller came out firing with confidence, and was 4 for 4 from 3-point range at half. Miller finished the game with 23 points, shooting 7 for 8 from 3.

Before Stephen Curry set a finals record with nine 3-pointers made against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, the seven 3-pointers made by Miller was tied for the second-most 3s made in a single Finals game, with Ray Allen holding the initial record with eight in the 2010 NBA Finals vs the Los Angeles Lakers.

Miller’s huge night combined with a LeBron James 32-point triple double along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh totaling for 44 points led to a comfortable 121-106 victory and the first title won in the Big 3 era.

This next performance comes from another game in the 2012 NBA Finals. In this instance, an unexpected hero rose to the occasion and closed out the game after a major injury left a potential victory in jeopardy.