2023 NBA Finals: Behind historic night from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets win Game 3 over Miami Heat
Denver bounces back from Game 2 defeat to take a 2-1 series lead and regain home-court advantage as Jokic and Murray become the first duo in NBA history - regular season or play-offs - to produce a pair of 30-point triple-doubles in a 109-94 victory.
Basketball
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray became the first duo to each have a 30-point triple-double in NBA regular- or post-season history as the Denver Nuggets recaptured home-court advantage with a 109-94 Game 3 victory over the Miami Heat in the Finals on Wednesday (7 June).
On a special evening for basketball, Jokic had the first-ever 30-20-10 triple-double in the NBA Finals with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists. He did not sit in the second half.
Murray had a 34-10-10 outing as Denver took a 2-1 series lead ahead of Game 4 in Miami on Friday.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone hailed his two stars, saying it was the best they’ve ever played together.
“For (Murray) and Nikola to do what they did tonight, in a game that we needed to regain control home-court advantage of the series, was special to watch,” Malone said.
“I’ve been with Nikola for eight and Jamal for seven years now, and we’ve had some pretty good moments - but not in the NBA Finals.
“By far their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together.”
Denver Nuggets close out this time
Jokic, who also had a triple-double in Denver’s Game 1 win, was typically modest when asked what he thought about his historic performance.
“To be honest, not much,” said Jokic, who now has 10 triple-doubles during these play-offs. “We were more locked in, more focused.
“I’m just glad we won the game. It was a big one for us just because they won in our arena and we didn’t want to go down 2-1.
“We’ve got to win the next one. That’s our mindset and just win the next one. That’s how we’re going to get to the goal.”
After collapsing in the fourth quarter in Game 2 to allow Miami to even the series, Denver came out locked in on this night.
The Nuggets had a 53-48 lead at the break behind a 20-point first half from Murray, who had 18 points in the entire Game 2.
With Christian Braun providing a spark off the bench - he had 15 points in 19 energetic minutes on 7-of-8 shooting - Denver pulled away in the third quarter and led by as many as 21 in the fourth. Aaron Gordon also stepped up with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Heat got within nine with less than two minutes remaining but the Nuggets held firm this time, seeing out the win.
Miami was led by Jimmy Butler’s 28 points and 22 points and 17 rebounds from Bam Adebayo although it didn't get much help from elsewhere.
The Heat shot 37 per-cent from the floor with only 11 3-pointers made and were clobbered on the glass 58-33.
“For us, when we lose a lot of those physical battles - the effort plays, loose balls, the rebounding battles - that’s our identity,” Erik Spoelstra . Sometimes, that can affect the flow of the rest of your game.”