Coach Michael Malone quizzed the Denver Nuggets during their morning shootaround on Thursday, hours before Game 1.
After a nine-day layoff, Malone wanted to make sure his team was focused and prepared. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, prevailed against the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 104-93, in front of a packed house at Ball Arena that had been anticipating this moment.
After a nine-day layoff, Malone wanted to make sure his team was focused and prepared. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, prevailed against the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 104-93, in front of a packed house at Ball Arena that had been anticipating this moment.
Jokic extended his unstoppable triple-double streak throughout this postseason despite only attempting five shots in the first three quarters. With 27 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds, he joined Jason Kidd as the only players to record a triple-double in their NBA Finals debut.
Jokic continued to average a triple-double in this playoffs and recorded his seventh triple-double in his previous nine playoff games. Jokic's assist total was the highest by a player in his first Finals game.
Malone referred to Jokic's decision to start the game without a strong offensive focus as "that's the beauty of Nikola," "I long ago learned that the defense tells you what to do, and Nikola never forces it," the witness said. He had 10 assists by halftime if they were going to pay him that much attention. He's just going to pick you apart, then.
The Nuggets believe they can defeat any defense in a variety of ways since they are still unbeaten at home in this postseason. If Jokic's offense is eliminated, the two-time MVP will locate his teammates for easy shots. Murray can be double-teamed, and the point guard can also dictate the flow of the game by passing.
Murray, who was also playing in his first Finals, finished the game with 26 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds. He scored the majority of his points in the first half, finishing with 18 points at the break.
Aaron Gordon, who came to the Nuggets from Orlando in a trade during the 2020–21 season, has sacrificed most of his offense, set a physical tone for the team, taking advantage of mismatches on smaller players and backing them in with traditional bully ball. In the first quarter, he scored 12 points on six of his first eight attempts.
At the halfway point of the third quarter, Denver was up 84-60. With 4:16 left, Jokic scored on an eight-foot floater and an eight-foot turnaround fadeaway shot to help Miami go within 10.
With 2:34 remaining, the Heat made another run, cutting the lead to nine, and Jokic connected with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a 15-foot shot. Jokic would add four more points to give the Heat their first postseason Game 1 loss.
The question "Have we lost one?" When asked if the Nuggets were concerned that the Heat had not yet dropped a Game 1, Murray responded.
When informed that the Nuggets haven't dropped a Game 1 in any of their playoff series, Murray responded, "I think we're doing a good job."
The Murray-Jokic combination keeps succeeding and finding ways to overcome opposing defenses. According to ESPN Stats & Information analysis, the main players for the Denver Nuggets became the third team of teammates to have each had 20 points and 10 assists in a Finals game, after Magic Johnson and James Worthy of the Los Angeles Lakers and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls.
Murray stated, "All we want to do is win a championship. "I just think it's fluid, gorgeous basketball," We are basically playing off of one another as the ball hops. Up to the fourth, a game can be won with only five shots.
"On the basketball floor, I was just making reads. The fact that this squad has so many varied weapons and appearances, in my opinion, is what makes it so beautiful. You must keep everyone safe. Even though Jokic was in complete control until the fourth quarter, it didn't feel that way. Yes, it's quite enjoyable and free-flowing.
Jokic was questioned following the game about the test Malone had given the squad during the morning shootaround.
Jokic claimed, "He didn't ask me anything." So, I'm not sure.
