DWYANE WADE HAS labelled tonight’s Game two in the NBA Finals as a must-win for his Miami Heat team.
San Antonio Spurs upset the defending champions 92-88 on their home American Airlines Arena court in Thursday’s Game 1 with the second clash also scheduled for Florida.
With the next three games after Sunday all set to be played back in the Spurs’ AT&T Centre in Texas, the need to record a home win is paramount.
Wade, a two-time NBA champion, said: “Obviously, you don’t want to go down 0-2, going to San Antonio for three straight games.
“Odds are not that good. They are not in our favour. We’re not a team that really says ‘This is a must-win game,’ but this is a must-win game.”
No team has ever won the NBA title after losing the first two games at home, while only three have done it from 2-0 deficits in history.
However, the Heat have not dropped two games in a row since early January as they overtook the Spurs for the best regular season record.
In terms of his lingering knee problem, Wade added: “I’ve been in this (physical) state for almost three months now.
“I’ve adjusted to playing with it. I will try to be a little more aggressive, especially in the second half, and the fourth quarter.”
Wade’s team-mate LeBron James, the regular season MVP, was restricted to 18 points in the opening game despite harvesting 18 rebounds and 10 assists.
James said: “I’ve done more and lost before. When I was in Cleveland, we played Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals and I think I averaged 38, 36, or whatever.”
Spurs point guard Tony Parker banked in a miraculous last-gasp shot to seal victory in the opening game and he was bullish ahead of Game two.
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The Frenchman, who last won the NBA Finals in 2007, said: “We definitely are having fun. I think we appreciate every moment.
“We don’t take anything for granted because it’s been a long time. It’s been six years. Felt like forever.”
