Anthony Davis wanted the task of guarding Jimmy Butler

Anthony Davis wanted the task of guarding Jimmy Butler, and it paid off in Game 4 https://t.co/eBlfLfveze via @YahooSports

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 7, 2020

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler drove it strong to his right with Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris defending. It resulted in a contested, awkward layup off his opposite leg that banked in to give Butler 40 points and seal Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Heat on Sunday.

“We felt like we got bullied,” Anthony Davis said.

Down the stretch in Game 4 on Tuesday night, Butler attempted the exact same move at a similar juncture, but Davis — a first-team All-NBA defender — was assigned to him.

With the Heat down seven and 24 seconds left in the game, Butler drove hard to his right, elevated off the opposite leg, put his body into Davis and the big man swatted the shot away with his left hand.

Teammate Rajon Rondo gathered the loose ball and the Lakers would gather their third win of the series, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead following a 102-96 victory.

“That’s why he’s the Defensive Player of the Year,” LeBron James said about his star teammate after recording a game-high 28 points, 12 boards and eight assists. “We said that all year. His ability to play one through five, guard anybody on the floor, take the challenge, not only guard on the perimeter, and continue to protect the paint. Guards drive on him. It’s hard to score on him. You see how high [Tyler] Herro threw that ball up? It went in, but he had to throw that thing up to the skyscrapers, right? That guy can do everything defensively. Guarding the ball, guard the post, slide his feet with guards, contest, can body up with bigs. I mean, need I say more?”