Global Courant
The Denver Nuggets became NBA champions for the first time, beating the Miami Heat 94-89 and winning the Finals 4-1 on aggregate.
Led by Nikola Jokic, who had 28 points and 16 rebounds, the Nuggets took advantage of the first of three opportunities they had to close the Finals and celebrated the first ring in their 47-year history in style with their audience.
The Heat dominated the start of the game under the guidance of an impressive Bam Adebayo (20 points and 12 rebounds), but ended up succumbing to key errors by their star Jimmy Butler (21 points) in the final two minutes, in which they went as far as ahead on the scoreboard.
I feel good. The job is done and we can go home now,” Jokic declared as soon as the game was over.
The Nuggets, who until this year had only reached the Western Conference finals four times (1978, 1985, 2009 and 2020), reached the top of the NBA thanks to a team simmered for almost a decade and led by for the unique talent of Jokic and the fabulous duo he forms with Jamal Murray (14 points).
“You are the best fans,” coach Michael Malone thanked the 19,000 fans at the Ball Arena. “But I have news for you, we are not satisfied with this. We want more, we want more.”
Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon celebrate their first NBA ring on the court. (Free Press Photo: AFP)
The Heat, who aspired to the fourth ring in their history, had practically lost all their chances of victory with their two defeats last week in Miami, but this Monday they returned to the track determined to fight and arrived with the game tied at the last minutes.
Denver’s Jeff Green dunks the ball as two Miami Heat players watch. (Free Press Photo: AFP)
Several throwing errors by Butler and a steal by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ended Miami’s hopes.
YOUR DENVER NUGGETS ARE THE 2023 NBA CHAMPIONS #bRINGItIn pic.twitter.com/aOHqbUYwOx
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 13, 2023
The Denver Nuggets win their first title after winning
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