NBA Finals, Game 1: Denver Nuggets dominate Miami Heat as Jokic leads way with another triple double
- Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic scores 27 points with 10 rebounds and 14 assists in 104-93 win
- Nuggets playing in first NBA Finals campaign in franchise history will host Game 2 on Sunday
The Denver Nuggets launched their first NBA Finals campaign in franchise history with a dominant 104-93 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, propelled by yet another Nikola Jokic triple double.
Jokic, a two-time MVP, scored 27 points with 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead the Nuggets, who will try to double their advantage in the best-of-seven series when they host game two on Sunday.
Jamal Murray scored 26 points, handed out 10 assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Nuggets, who led by 24 points in the third quarter and repelled the resilient Heat’s fourth quarter challenge.
“We respect their team a lot,” Jokic said. “We just wanted to get the first punch.
“In the first three rounds they won their first game when they travelled on the road and we didn’t want to have that to happen. I think we did a good job.”
Bam Adebayo scored 26 points to lead Miami. Gabe Vincent added 19 and Haywood Highsmith scored 18 off the bench, but Heat star Jimmy Butler was limited to 13.