NBA Finals: Jokić-Murray Duo Lifts Nuggets 2-1

Nuggets take a 2-1 series lead in NBA Finals with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray leading the charge against the Heat

NBA Finals Jokić-Murray Duo Lifts Nuggets 2-1
NBA Finals Jokić-Murray Duo Lifts Nuggets 2-1

Why the Nuggets Leads Series 2-1 Against Heat

In the 3rd game of the NBA Finals at Kaseya Center, the Nuggets Denver managed to lead the series with a 14 point advantage thanks to the apik game of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Coach Michael Malone, who acknowledged his team’s difficulties in the last quarter of Game 2,

this time decided to stay playing Jokić on the pitch, instead of using the replacement unit that usually involves Murray alongside Aaron Gordon and three other Denver replacement players: Bruce Brown, Christian Braun, and Jeff Green.

Sensational performance by Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokić was great. Denver had no choice but to let him play to regain the advantage of playing at the Heat home. Jokić became the first player in NBA history to score more than 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a final game.

Jokić’s outstanding appearance was the key to Nuggets’ victory with a score of 109-94, and now they lead the 2-1 series against Heat. Jokić finished the game with 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists. With such performances, the word “masterpiece” seems to not be enough to describe Jokić’s appearance on this final stage.

The perfect combination between Jokić and Murray

The Nuggets’ main striking duo, Jokić and Murray, managed to run their two-man games apikally throughout the game. Jokić receives feed from Murray in the paint area. Murray scored a triple-double score of 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

However, Nuggets struggled to find a consistent third contributor in his attack throughout the series. Aaron Gordon’s dominance in the area from the beginning of Game 1 did not continue. Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are ineffective as weapons in the middle line.

Although Murray opened the fourth quarter with a jump shot and Jokić scored 4 initial points, but the role of Christian Braun from the backbone was the one that managed to stop Miami’s double comeback.

Significant Contributions of Christian Braun

Braun made a significant contribution by scoring 15 points in 19 minutes of playing. Fighting Miami zone defense with Duncan Robinson’s presence on the pitch, Braun often sneaks behind Miami’s defense lines as Murray makes an attack.

The 22-year-old is always ready to explode with full force, either when catching a rebound, attacking a close-out, or stealing the ball to score transition points. At the beginning of the fourth quarter,

Braun made a drive and gave an assist to the short jumper Jokić, widening the Nuggets’ advantage to 16 points.

Braun then slid behind the defensive line and managed to score points plus mistakes when facing Gabe Vincent, widening the advantage again to 19 points. On the next chance, Braun directly attacked Jimmy Butler in the middle line and scored points again.

The Miami Heat

Butler once again demonstrated his superiority throughout the game by scoring 28 points, becoming Miami’s highest scoring. Followed by Adebayo with 22 points and 17 rebounds, as well as making a deadly slam dunk over Jokić in the second quarter.

However unless Caleb Martin scored double-digit points outside of Miami’s main players, the contribution of Heat’s supportive team members in the form of three-pointers was not as significant as in Game 2.

Duncan Robinson scored a few three-pointers at the end of the game,

which was enough to make Malone shake his head and call out when the rest of the time was only one minute away. Nevertheless, Nuggets managed to keep a distance with Heat.

The Nuggets’ Success on the Road

Quarter last which has not been successfully dealt with by Nuggets on previous match, when they lost their first home match during the playoff round, this time was not too much a barrier when the game moved to South Florida.

Nuggets managed to win four matches in the playoff. While that, Heat has swallowed three defeats in a row of his cage.

Will Miami Heat Rise Again?

Although the series felt tight a few days ago, Nuggets seemed to have found a strong enough momentum to advance well in the fourth game.

If successful, the Nuggets will secure their first championship title in the history of the club in the Game 5 that will take place in the Ball Arena. However, does the Miami Heat team that never gave up throughout this playoff round still have another surprise they will reveal?

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In the Game 3 NBA Finals game, the Denver Nuggets led the 2-1 series against Miami Heat thanks to the superiority of the duo Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Jokić performed outstanding with a triple-double and Murray made a significant contribution.

Although Nuggets haven’t found a consistent third contributor, Christian Braun’s role from the bench gave a big impact. Heat, although directed by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, has not been able to match the performance of Nuggets.

The success of Nuggets in the pitch and the failure of Heat in the cage are the determining factors. The question is, will Heat be able to resurrect again as they have shown before?