NBA – The Denver Nuggets win again on the floor of the Miami Heat and get closer to the title

Miami Heat – Denver Nuggets : 95-108

The Nuggets lead the series 3-1

There is almost nothing that can disturb the Nuggets, on a mission to win the first title in their history. Winners of the Heat on Friday night (108-95), Nikola Jokic and his comrades are only one victory away from hitting the goal and the coveted trophy. They have once again generally mastered their subject, without giving a basketball lesson. Michael Malone’s team may not dominate outrageously but they still seem really above and they leave without solution a Miami formation which continues to adapt without succeeding in taking the advantage over Denver .

Already because the danger can come from anywhere in attack on the side of the Nuggets. Three players finished over 20 points and the top scorer is neither Nikola Jokic (23) nor Jamal Murray (15). The two stars dominated the previous match by compiling 66 pawns. But they shot less than 50% last night, which is rare enough to be underlined. And yet, Denver won anyway. Because Aaron Gordon was extremely valuable, and it’s almost an understatement, by registering 27 points on 11 of 15 on shots including 3 of 4 from three-pointers. He also added 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Confined to all the thankless tasks, real binders in this well-oiled collective, the interior punished the Heat each time the defense stuck a smaller and less powerful player on his back.

His 8 points – with two award-winning baskets – at the start of the second quarter allowed his team to take the lead after 12 minutes to the advantage of Miami and marked by the clumsiness of both teams. Then they started to get into the rhythm but it was Denver who took the lead at the break (55-51) with 16 points from Gordon in particular. The X factor of this encounter had another very productive run, this time late in the third quarter. He planted 7 points in the space of a few moments, including a killer three-point basket 3 seconds from the siren to give his team a 13-point lead (86-73). Biggest gap of the game.

It almost seemed bent. But the Heat never die without a fight. As often, Jimmy Butler (25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) and his teammates put a lot of pressure from the start of money time. With a quick 8-0 to pick up at 5 lengths (86-81). Especially since Jokic had just come off after taking his fifth foul with long minutes left to play. An opportunity that Miami failed to seize. Because the other Denver players wouldn’t let them. Although clumsy for most of the game (5 of 17 on shots), Murray scored a crucial long shot to stop the run. He distributed brilliantly (12 assists) and the Nuggets relied on hot shots from Gordon and Bruce Brown (21 points off the bench) to hold on and bend the deal.

The Nuggets were leading by 10 points when Nikola Jokic came out. They still had a 9-point lead when he came back into play 5 minutes later. They will have the opportunity to finish in front of their audience next Monday, in a room where they have lost only once in the playoffs, during Game 2 of these 2023 NBA Finals. The only game in the series where Miami scored over 100 points. The Florida franchise suffers from strong individuals capable of making a difference in attack, especially in the absence of Tyler Herro. It’s not over yet, especially not with this Heat, but it’s getting very close. Only one team has managed to overcome such a handicap at this stage of the competition. The Cavaliers in 2016. But they had a certain LeBron James in their ranks. Suffice to say that the task promises to be really delicate for Butler and company.