Nikola Jokic’s brilliant triple-double performance helped the Denver Nuggets overcome the Miami Heat 104-93 in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Ball Arena on Thursday night.
The two-time MVP, who was playing in his first NBA Finals, led the Nuggets with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists. Jokic, who took only three shots in the first two quarters, had 10 points and 10 assists by halftime, becoming the second player in the last 25 years to have 10 assists after two quarters of a finals game – joining LeBron James who did so in the 2017 season while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Serbian ended the game with his ninth triple-double of this season’s playoffs and his sixth in the last seven games. He also became the eighth player in NBA history to have a triple-double in Game 1 of a finals.
Nuggets defeat Heat to take Game 1 of the #NBAFinals
Nikola Jokic: 27pts, 10 rebs, 14 assts
Bam Adebayo: 26pts, 13rebs, 5 assts#NBAonAfrosport #Freedomofsports https://t.co/MGnCgG2j6i pic.twitter.com/cb0qmO4V5v— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) June 2, 2023
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray scored 26 points and dished out 10 assists, while Aaron Gordon finished with 16 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes to go along with Michael Porter Jr’s 14 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Nigerian-American centre Bam Adebayo led the Heat with an impressive 26 points and 13 rebounds, while D’Tigers captain Gabe Vincent added 19 points and shot five of 10 from the 3-point line.
Jimmy Butler, who won the Erving “Magic” Johnson trophy as the Western Conference Finals MVP, struggled throughout the game as he finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists while shooting 42.9% from the field on 6 of 14 shots as the Eastern Conference champions fell to the Western Conference champions.
After the game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone praised his team while explaining their approach to the game and to the finals as a whole.
“That was one of my last messages to the group before our game,” he said. “I reminded our group, if they didn’t know, that Miami went into Milwaukee and won Game 1. They went into the Garden in New York City and won Game 1. They won Game 1 up in Boston.
“So, we did not want them coming in here taking control of the series on our court.”
The two sides will face off in Game 2 in the early hours of Monday, June 5, at the Ball Arena as the Nuggets look to continue their unbeaten streak at home in the playoffs this season and take a 2-0 lead to Miami.
You can watch the game LIVE on the go for free from 12:30am (West African Time) on Afrosport TV on Free TV Channel 730 and via VIDIVU on Monday, June 5.
