Denver Nuggets Make History as NBA Champions 2023: Game Highlights and Analysis

2023-06-13 03:27:00

NBA – Faced with a courageous Heat, the Nuggets found the necessary resources in the last quarter to win 94-89 and become NBA champions 2023!

Despite four lost balls in the first 150 seconds, the Nuggets responded by passing a 12-0 to Miami, then 2/14 on shots, to make the Ball Arena roar (16-8). The Heat let the storm pass and put their defense in place. Erik Spoelstra’s players ended the quarter with a 16-6, thanks to 14 points from Bam Adebayo to finally take the lead (24-22).

Miami’s zone defense slows the Nuggets but they stay in contact thanks to the offensive rebounds they swallow on the weak side thanks to Michael Porter Jr (30-27). With Nikola Jokic at two faults and Aaron Gordon at three, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, and Duncan Robinson attack the circle relentlessly and pass a 9-2 in Denver to take a ten-point lead (39-29).

Nikola Jokic then takes things in hand by being more aggressive, Jamal Murray imitates him, but Miami responds each time. Kyle Lowry 3-pointers twice in a row, then two baskets from Bam Adebayo, and a 1/4 on free throws from the Braun – Brown pair, allow the Heat to return to the locker room with a seven-point lead (51-44 ).

The Nuggets, NBA champions for the 1st time in their history

Denver returns to the field with instructions to force-feed Nikola Jokic with the ball. The Serb scores 8 points in five minutes and in his wake the defensive intensity of the Nuggets goes up a notch. An award-winning shot from Jamal Murray in transition concludes a 16-9 that puts the two teams back to back (60-60). There followed six minutes of bloopers on both sides (lost balls and chronic clumsiness) before five straight points from Michael Porter Jr woke up the Ball Arena. But a 3-pointer from Kyle Lowry keeps the Heat ahead (71-70).

Denver then produces its effort to start the fourth quarter. They finally manage to impose their rhythm behind the trio Jokic – Murray – Gordon. Their defense limits Miami to five points in seven minutes to take control of the game (83-76). Jimmy Butler, however clumsy this evening, then stops the scarcity of his people by chaining two 3-pointers in a row, followed by three free throws on a disputed foul on which Malone had asked and lost his challenge. “Jimmy Buckets” adds a mid-range shot to put Miami back in front with three minutes to play (87-86)!

Butler scores once more, his thirteenth point in a row, but Nikola Jokic and Bruce Brown respond to him to put Denver at +1 (90-89). With regarding 30 seconds to play, Butler attacks the circle and instead of shooting, he tries to make a pass. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intercepts it. NBA champion in 2020, KCP adds two throws behind to offer the title to the Nuggets, new NBA champions!

WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER

— Nuggets powered up to start the game. Before the match, Mike Malone was loudly proclaiming that his team was not nervous for their first chance to clinch the title. Once on the pitch, it was a different story. The Nuggets lost 4 balls in the first three minutes of the game, they ended the half with 10, including three each for the Jokic – Murray duo. The frustration was quickly felt with Aaron Gordon at three faults and limited to 7 minutes of play at halftime. Facing Miami’s zone defense, the Nuggets also failed to generate their movement and their address suffered. Despite open shots, they returned to the locker room at 1/15 from 3-pointers, a (pitiful) record in an NBA Finals halftime. The Heat did little better (4/15), but went for points on the free throw line (+6) and in second chances (+6).

— Miami dictates the style and tempo of the match. From the first minutes of the game, the Heat put their mark on the game. They played slowly, stroking to get their possessions into the final five seconds consistently. They defended in the zone to slow down the Nuggets even more and somehow limited the number of possessions in the game. Miami came to Denver and dug a trench, asking the Nuggets to beat them at their own game.

— Champion-sized Denver!

As since the start of the playoffs, when Denver had the opportunity to conclude, they never trembled. That night they still shook for three quarters before taking over in money time thanks to their defense, which had limited Miami to 5 points in seven minutes, and their two stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. They also knew how to kill the last hopes of Miami, which came back with a bang thanks to 13 straight points from Jimmy Butler. In the end, it was Denver’s collective strength that made the difference!

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Nikola Jokic. Despite an early game marked by three stray bullets, the Joker kept his team in the game when none of his teammates found the target. The two-time MVP finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds, and the Finals MVP trophy in his pocket.

✅ Michael Porter Jr. Always delicate with his address, the Nuggets winger still did the little things that make the difference to finish with 16 points but above all 13 rebounds, including 2 important offensives in the first half to break the good passage of the Heat .

✅ Bam Adebayo. The pivot started strong, scoring 14 of its 20 points in the first quarter. He finished in double double (12 rebounds) and limited the impact of Nikola Jokic as much as possible.

✅ Kyle Lowry. Despite his 4/12 on shots, the substitute point guard was decisive throughout the meeting in relay of a Gabe Vincent in difficulty. He finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

✅ ⛔ Jamal Murray. He was clumsy but he still blackened the stat sheet with 14 points at 6/15 on shots, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, but also 6 lost balls.

✅ ⛔ Jimmy Butler. Short on all shots for three quarters, “Playoffs Jimmy” made one final appearance by scoring 13 of 21 points in the two minutes that brought Miami back into the game. His loose ball with 30 seconds left, however, sealed the fate of this match.

⛔ Gabe Vincent. The Heat leader had a complicated third game, finishing with 6 points at 3/13 on shots.

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