The biggest event of the NBA season has finally arrived. The Denver Nuggets are appearing in their first NBA Finals and enter as heavy favorites behind their team depth and the power duo of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat enter the finals with the weight of history on their shoulders. After appearing in the NBA Finals in 2020, the Heat have made the Finals as an eighth seed. The Heat are hunting for their first title since 2013.
The Finals matches a Jimmy Butler-led Heat against the Jokić-Murray-led Nuggets. It will be a test of wills, depth, and strength between the two sides. However, the Nuggets, the Western one-seed are widely expected to dominate the Heat. June 1 marked the first game of the Finals in Denver.
Nuggets Blow Out Heat
The Heat tried to keep it close in the first quarter but still trailed by nine heading into the second. However, the Nuggets kicked it into a higher gear and dominated on all aspects of the game, extending their lead to 17 at the half. With the game well in hand heading into the second half, the Nuggets continued to pile on the pain. At the end of the third, they led by 21. However, the Heat attempted a comeback in the fourth, pulling within 10 with four minutes to go. Despite this, the Nuggets persisted and cruised to a 104-93 win.
Nikola Jokić led all scorers with 27 points as part of his ninth triple-double of the playoffs, adding to his historic record. Furthermore, Jamal Murray added a double-double of his own, with 26 points and 10 assists. Two other Nuggets starters, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., also put up double-digit points. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 26 points. However, the Heat suffered from a down performance from “Playoff Jimmy”, who put up just 13 points. The Heat will look to bounce back on Sunday.
Twitter Reacts
We got a message from the one and only @kenjeong
pic.twitter.com/ignoZXOGuw
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 2, 2023
Russ after the dub
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 2, 2023
hey @MiamiHEAT, here are 3 hikes in our Colorado state parks that could help you train up to get used to our altitude, since you seemed to struggle a bit tonight
— Colorado Parks and Wildlife (@COParksWildlife) June 2, 2023
Prayer circle:
The Miami Heat
shoot threes.
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) June 2, 2023
Do you think the Heat will bounce back on Sunday? Or are the Nuggets headed for a 2-0 start? Let us know in the comments.
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