NBA Finals: Heat can't conjure...

MIAMI — The big, gold ball is coming more and more into vision for the Denver Nuggets, and like everything the Heat wanted to accomplish in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, it looks like an unobtainable mirage for Miami.

The Heat are staring at some unavoidable realities, capped off by a 108-95 loss to the Nuggets on Friday night on their home court — and being one loss away from elimination.

First, they’ve lost four straight home games, with that Game 3 East finals blowout of the Boston Celtics feeling like months ago, and overall they’ve dropped six of eight after a rousing start to this playoff run.

But beyond the numbers, an opportunity was in front of the Heat in Game 4 to tie the series and send real doubt into the minds of the favored Nuggets.

Something special was required from the Heat. Not just good or great, but special. Transcendent.

Games 4s have recently brought Steph Curry burning down the TD Garden with a hail of triples, and Giannis Antetokounmpo pushing off an ailing leg to produce arguably the greatest defensive play in the history of the sport.

In years past, Michael Jordan’s highest-scoring Finals game was a 55-point special … in Game 4. Magic Johnson’s junior-junior skyhook? Game 4.

Jimmy Butler was good, and in moments you felt like the magic was coming. But he’s done so much already this postseason, 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists almost feel like you’re asking too much of a man with a bum ankle that’s robbed him of explosiveness and base strength.

Transcendence was necessary. Good with great moments isn’t quite good enough.

The Heat could see it, and at times felt close enough to taste it but couldn’t really wrap their arms around the moment. There wasn’t real panic, and the Heat were competitive when it seemed like they were on the verge of getting run out of their own building multiple times.

But close was as close as they could get it — and they’ve probably gone as far as their talent can reasonably take them, as far as Erik Spoelstra’s masterful coaching can move them. They need more, and more isn’t on the floor or on the sideline.

Perhaps it comes in the form of Damian Lillard, who listed the Heat as a destination in the event he gets traded from Portland, and he could certainly fit right in with the pack of dogs the Heat employ.

The Heat needed someone to put real pressure on Jamal Murray following his 30-point triple-double, on both ends of the floor, a true weapon that can only be scouted for in so many ways before basketball excellence takes hold.

Gabe Vincent will certainly get paid by someone this offseason, but he’s had a couple of forgettable home games in the Finals — Friday he went 1-for-6 and was a minus-21. Max Strus again has been a non-factor in the three losses, bringing his total in those nights to a cringe-worthy 1-for-21.

Receiving unexpected sparks from Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love narrowed the gap, but it was extended when Aaron Gordon (27 points, seven rebounds, six assists) and Bruce Brown (21 points) played the games of their lives. Gordon, of course, is a former lottery pick who was overmatched as a No. 1 in Orlando but is perfectly nestled in the Nuggets’ system as a defender and opportunistic scorer.

In time, we’ll look at this Denver Nuggets postseason as one of the greatest runs in NBA history. The only reason we haven’t yet is because we didn’t predict it. It’s hard to see Milwaukee faring much better, let alone the maddening Boston Celtics — so putting the focus on the Heat as some lucky eighth seed sent to slaughter is misguided.

And the Heat coming up against this level of focus and determination, all hands and more were called for. And who knows if a healthy Tyler Herro would help, but a battered one isn’t much of anything but a target.

If any team is capable of making this a series, it’s these guys. They’re too stubborn to see what’s in front of them and perhaps too wise to acknowledge what they’re missing.

“Yeah, it’s going to be inspiring plays. You stack inspiring play after inspiring play,” Spoelstra said. “Then we are going to stack a bunch more of those kind of plays in Game 5. Our guys love this kind of deal with the stakes and the context of everything. We’re not even going to think about what’s after that. All we’re focused on is getting this thing back to Miami.”

They’re not thinking, but they see what they’re up against.