Down 0-2 and expecting to be without two key starters, the Miami Heat remain defiant as they look to Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"We don't give a s*** what everybody else thinks," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said in the aftermath of the 124-114 Game 2 loss on Friday.

"What will it take? Whatever is necessary. Simple as that. If you want something badly enough, you'll figure it out.

"Our group is stubborn and persistent, and we just need to figure out how to overcome this opponent."

Without Bam Adebayo (neck) and Goran Dragic (foot) on Friday, Miami showed grit in avoiding being blown out the way Game 1 unfolded, when the Heat trailed by as many as 32 points.

Jimmy Butler led the way with 25 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in playing 45 minutes, and Kelly Olynyk was a surprise off the bench with 24 points and nine rebounds.

The Heat may need that again and more Sunday as Adebayo and Dragic - two of the team's top three scorers in these playoffs - are both listed as doubtful.

"We're never giving up," said Butler. "We're going to fight, and we're going to ride with this thing 'til the wheels fall off. It's not over. We're just down 0-2; we got to do something special."

For the Lakers, the key is doing more of the same.

Los Angeles has been dominant the first two games, outscoring and outrebounding Miami.

The Western Conference champions have been potent both in the paint and from long range, and they show little sign of slowing down with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way.