Denver won the NBA’s first Finals game when the team beat Miami 104-93.
The Denver Nuggets won the opening game of the final series of the basketball NBA league. The Coloradoans defeated the Miami Heat on their home floor with a score of 104–93.
The strongest scorer of the match was from Denver Nikola Jokic with 27 points. The Serbian star once again reached the so-called triple-double after making double-digit performances in the number of rebounds and assists as well. Jokic caught 14 assists and grabbed ten rebounds, each of them on the defensive end.
– The most important thing is to win the match. I try to win every match by all means, Jokic said after the match.
The triple-double was Jokic’s sixth in the previous seven games.
Denver’s other star player Jamal Murray scored 26 points as did Miami Bam Adebayo. Both of them had a double-double, Murray with ten assists and Adebayo with 13 rebounds.
Denver has won all of its playoff home games and lost only three away games. The versatile attack led by Jokic and Murray has led the Kalliovuorti team to a seven-game winning streak.
– We have so many different ways to beat the opponent, Murray stated unequivocally after the match.
Miami star player Jimmy Butler was in trouble throughout the match. The star player, who scored only 13 points, moved sluggishly, and missed, for example, free throw attempts for the first time since the second regular season game of the season.
In general, Miami only made a staggering two free throws in the game. This is the fewest in NBA playoff history. Butler had a clear vision of what the team needs to improve in its game.
– They came into the game really physically, we have to be able to respond to that. Maybe we need to be a little more aggressive, said Butler, who grabbed seven assists and a rebound.
Denver now leads the match series with wins 1–0, while four wins are needed for the league championship. While Denver is playing in the NBA Finals for the first time in its club history, Miami already has three championships under its belt.
The next time the teams meet is early on Monday Finnish time. The next game will also be played in Denver, which is about 1,600 meters above sea level.