With a total of seven finals appearances, the Miami Heat have a fair share of iconic moments from their franchise stars. We can look back on Dwyane Wade’s all-time great performance against the Dallas Mavericks in 2006, LeBron James’ Game 6 and 7 performance vs the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, and Jimmy Butler’s triple-doubles in Game’s 3 and 5 vs the Lakers in 2020.
While it’s common for the best players to receive the glory and praise, there have also been crucial performances from role players that have contributed to either fight off elimination, clinch a finals win, or take a commanding lead. Let’s highlight some memorable finals performances from Miami Heat role players who deserve their flowers by stepping up when it was needed most.
The top Finals performances by a role player in Miami Heat history.
5. Duncan Robinson, Game 5 of 2020 Finals
After Jimmy Butler’s 40-point triple-double led Miami to a Game 3 win to avoid falling down 3-0, the Miami Heat lost a heartbreaking Game 4 and found themselves in a 3-1 deficit.
During the series, the Heat lost Goran Dragic in Game 1 due to a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. All-Star center Bam Adebayo also strained his neck in Game 1, causing him to miss Game 2 and 3.
To have a shot against the Lakers, someone was going to have to step up and provide Butler with a scoring punch. Leading up to Game 5, Duncan Robinson was not in regular-season form. Robinson was shooting 30% from 3 in the finals (8 for 26), and while the Lakers did a good job of contesting Robinson’s shots, Adebayo being injured affected Robinson as their two-man game led to great looks for Robinson, specifically with the dribble hand-off.
But in a do-or-die scenario, with the Lakers being 3-0 in elimination games and ending each series in five during their playoff run, Robinson shot the lights out and made the Lakers pay every time they lost track of him. Robinson had a stat line of 26 points to go along with seven 3-pointers made, tying Mike Miller for the most 3s made in a game by a Heat player in the NBA Finals.
With most remembering Butler and LeBron trading punches in the fourth quarter, Robinson made some critical plays himself, as he drew a charge on James with 9:05 left in the final period and also hit a 3 at the top of the key to give Miami a 101-99 lead in the closing stages of a very tight battle.
The Heat ended up winning the game, 111-108. While Miami ended up losing the series in Game 6, Robinson’s shooting night was vital and kept Miami alive.
The next player on the list is another sharpshooter who was dealing with shooting and health issues, but managed to put together one of the best nights of his career to help Miami secure a title.
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.
3. Mario Chalmers, Game 4 of 2012 Finals
In Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat clawed back from a 17-point deficit and lead the Oklahoma City Thunder 79-75 headed into the final quarter. Like Robinson and Miller, Chalmers also could not find his offense. Chalmers combined for 17 points on 22 shots through the first three games, shooting 31% from the floor (7 for 22).
But that did not rattle Chalmers, who kept shooting when the opportunity came to him, and this time, it paid off in a huge way. Through the first three quarters, Chalmers had 13 points, his best scoring outing of the series. But in the final quarter, Chalmers exploded when it was needed more than ever.
In the early stages of the fourth, Chalmers made his first three shots of the quarter, and the momentum carried over in the clutch. As the game headed into the final stretch, LeBron had to exit the game with 5:15 left as he was dealing with leg cramps.
James re-entered with 4:05 left and hit a huge 3-pointer to put Miami up 97-94. James was hobbling up and down the floor, and was unable to finish the game as he left the floor with 55.5 seconds left.
Up 99-96, Dwyane Wade swung the ball to Chalmers on the wing, who blew by Russell Westbrook and finished a tough layup over Serge Ibaka to give Miami breathing room and make it a two-possession game.
Chalmers then iced the game by hitting three free throws with seconds left to give Miami a decisive 3-1 lead over the Thunder. Chalmers finished with 25 points, which tied his postseason career high as he scored 25 in Game 3 vs Indiana in the second round.
The outburst from Chalmers was much needed, as Miami did not have an answer for Westbrook, who scored 43 points with 17 coming in the fourth. Chalmers had 12 points in the quarter, and scored the final five points for Miami.
This game was huge for Miami, as a loss would’ve required Miami to win another game in a tough OKC environment, as the Finals format during the time was 2-3-2. Instead, Game 5 was set up for Miami to finish the job, in which the ultimately did.
Second on the list comes from the 2013 NBA Finals vs the San Antonio Spurs. After an all-time classic Game 6, the Spurs and Heat produced another thriller in Game 7. With most remembering the jump-shooting arsenal LeBon James put on with the Spurs daring him to shoot, another player joined James to put Miami over the finish line.
2. Shane Battier, Game 7 of 2013 Finals
During the 2013 playoff run, Shane Battier was far from his best offensively. In the 2012 playoffs, Battier shot 38% from behind the arc, while in 2013, Battier’s percentage plummeted to 29%.
Against the Spurs in the Finals, Battier only made one 3-pointer in nine attempts through the first four games, but slowly started to improve as the series carried on. Battier made two 3-pointers in Game 5 and followed up with three 3-pointers made in Game 6.
Battier only got better, and in Game 7, he doubled his made 3s the previous game with six, contributing for half of the team’s makes from 3 as the Heat made 12 total. In an interview with USA Today, Battier stated that his growth in confidence was a factor into having a good outing.
"“Honestly, I felt good the last couple of games. And I made a couple of threes last game, and so I felt really confident tonight.”"
With Dwyane Wade having a 23-point 10-rebound game and LeBron James having a series high 37-point outing, Battier’s perimeter shooting off the bench put the Heat over the top, as two starters in Mike Miller and Chris Bosh combined for zero points on 0 for 10 shooting.
The Heat would go on to win 95-88, claiming their third championship in franchise history while also going back-to-back. Miami also handed the Spurs their first and only finals loss in six trips.
To top off the list, coming in at No. 1 is someone who was a part of all three title runs, with this instance being a major factor in bringing home Miami’s first ever championship. He’s known as Mr. 305, and this performance summed up who Udonis Haslem was as a player.
1. Udonis Haslem, Game 6 of 2006 Finals
When reminiscing on the 2006 NBA Finals, the first thing that comes to mind is Dwyane Wade’s heroics, and rightfully so, as Wade put on one of the best finals performances in NBA history.
But in the series clinching Game 6 victory, Udonis Haslem stepped up and provided quality production on both ends of the court. Haslem scored his finals high with 17 points on 8 for 13 shooting and also provided 10 rebounds. Haslem was given the mid-range jumper, and he made Dallas regret every time he was left uncontested.
The big moment for Haslem came in the fourth quarter, as Shaquille O’Neal picked up his fifth foul with 9:54 left in the game. Alonzo Mourning also picked up his fourth foul and played only 2:33 in the fourth. Haslem had to play the entire fourth quarter, and Haslem made sure every minute counted.
Haslem recorded six points and five rebounds in the fourth, and came up with a clutch offensive rebound and put-back off of a Jason Williams missed three to put Miami up 91-88 with 1:21 left in the game. Haslem’s three field goals made also lead the team in the fourth.
For the series, Haslem was the primary defender on Maverick’s star and now Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki. In the first half, Nowitzki had his way, scoring 17 at half on 8 for 12 shooting.
The second half was a completely different story, as Nowitzki shot 2 for 10 from the field, and only scored two points in the fourth quarter. While the Heat swarmed Nowitzki, Haslem was the head of the snake when it came to defending Nowitzki.
On Duncan Robinson’s “The Long Shot podcast”, Haslem described the challenge of defending Nowitzki with his unique skillset.
"“No power forward would set a ball screen on the perimeter and run you off a triple floppy on the baseline. Like it was just not happening, I had not seen it before.”"
What made Haslem’s performance even more impressive was the fact that Haslem was dealing with a strained left shoulder and contusion suffered in Game 2.
To take on the challenge of defending the opposing team’s best player while also mustering up the best offensive outing of the finals on an injured shoulder represented who Haslem was — a gritty player who was willing to do whatever it takes to win no matter the circumstances.
Each Miami star received proper recognition after each finals victory, but there are role guys who also put their best foot forward when needed, and these players all deserve recognition for showing up when it counted the most.