After sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers, the No. 1-seeded Nuggets make their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals where they’re set to face the winners of the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Heat at Ball Arena in Denver.
Game 1 headlines
GAME STORY: Nuggets seize Game 1 of NBA Finals behind Nikola Jokic’s triple-double
Kiszla: Nuggets won’t be denied first championship. This series is over. Book the victory parade route.
Keeler: Like Nikola Jokic, Nuggets fans from Littleton to Tel Aviv showed up to NBA Finals looking for a steal. “It’s priceless.”
Nuggets 3-pointers: Nikola Jokic’s generosity on biggest stage shows sharing means caring in NBA Finals
Nuggets-Heat NBA Finals Game 1 superlatives: A heaping dose of Aaron Gordon bully ball jump-starts Denver’s title quest
Live updates
FINAL: Nuggets 104, Heat 93. And it wasn’t even that close.
(8:39 p.m.): No better phrase in Nuggets basketball than “Nikola Jokic is coming back in the game.” The Joker buries back-to-back buckets, KCP comes off a curl for a mid-range jumper and Joker sets up a pair of free throws for Aaron Gordon. The Heat got within nine, but the rally was way too little, way too late. Nuggets 100, Heat 87 with 1:52 to go. — Matt Schubert
(8:27 p.m.): Can’t say enough about MPJ’s night tonight. Don’t really care that he’s missed a bunch of open 3s. When you’re not a one-tool player, you can impact the game in other ways. Put the ball on the deck. Snatch 12 boards. Feed your teammates. — Mike Singer
(8:23 p.m.): Interesting part of Miami’s 11-0 run to start the fourth quarter: Jokic was on the floor for it. That’s his normal break time, though Malone has been willing to forego it at times in the playoffs. If the Heat really get back into the game, will Jokic be tasked with playing the entire second half? — Parker Gabriel
Zone trouble (8:18 p.m.): The Heat goes zone, and Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray miss a couple of good looks, while the Heat bury a couple of 3s on the other end, the last a Kyle Lowry screen in front of Nikola Jokic in drop coverage. It’s 84-71 to start the fourth with 10:02 to go. The good news: Rocky just knocked down his half-court shot. It’s Denver’s night. — Matt Schubert
Domination (8:14 p.m.): Consider that sad little Heat possession a nice encapsulation of the evening for Miami. Outside of Bam Adebayo, the Heat is a zero on the offensive end. Caleb Martin and Max Strus are a combined 1 for 17 from the floor. It’s the end of the third quarter, and this game feels over. Nuggets 84, Heat 63 with one quarter to go. — Matt Schubert
Wide open looks (8:03 p.m.): It’s shooting practice for the Nuggets right now. At 54% from the field and 42% from 3, it’s an offensive clinic. And Nikola Jokic has STILL barely shot the ball. He’s got to be loving this. Nuggets 79, Heat 60 w/ 2:51 left in third quarter. — Matt Schubert
Bam is doing whatever it takes to keep Miami alive (7:56): Bam Adebayo has carried the Heat’s starters tonight, which is a bit of a surpise. He has 22 points and eight boards. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler, Max Strus and Caleb Martin have combined to score 11 points on 5-for-26 shooting. — Ryan McFadden
Two-man perfection (7:55 p.m.): Just when the Heat looked to have a handle on the Jokic-Murray two-man game for one possession, Murray flips an off balance pass to Joker at the 3-point line, and the big man buries it as the shot clock expires. Starting to think this isn’t going to be Miami’s night. Nuggets 71, Heat 55, w/ 6:12 left in the third quarter. — Matt Schubert
Arm’s length (7:53 p.m.): Just when it looked like the Heat might creep back into this thing, Jamal Murray gets a pair of and-ones. And Aaron Gordon swats a Max Strus 3-point attempt. Nuggets 67, Heat 51 with 7:37 left in the third quarter. — Matt Schubert
Bam is a problem (7:47 p.m.): Miami is running its offense through Bam Adebayo, and it’s been effective early in the third quarter. — Matt Schubert
Halftime update
Mike Singer, Nuggets beat reporter: This team is so connected right now. When there’s a mismatch, they hunt it. Nuggets are up 17 at halftime. Joker’s got a first-half double-double (10/10), Jamal’s got 18, AG’s got 14, and Porter, who’s been amazing, has 10/7 and a helluva lot of defensive contests.
Bennett Durando, sports reporter: A critical ingredient in the Heat upset formula was keeping a red-hot 3-point shooting stretch alive. Miami is 4 for 17 from beyond the arc, including an 0 for 6 half for Max Strus. The Nuggets’ four best players are all in double figures. One Heat player (Bam) is.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Nikola Jokic 10 assists (and just three shots), Jamal Murray 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, Michael Porter Jr. with as many 3s (2) as blocks (2), and Aaron Gordon blowing up dudes around the hoop. Michael Malone couldn’t have drawn it up better if he tried. I picked Nuggets in five prior to the series, and now I’m really regretting not going for the sweep. The Heat is overmatched right now.
Porter is getting aggressive (7:22): After three back surgeries, Porter is taking advantage of this moment in the Finals. He is blocking shots, driving to the rim for a dunk and knocking down 3-pointers. He has 10 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks. When he gets getting, the Nuggets are even more dangerous. — Ryan McFadden
Shot No. 2 (7:20 p.m.): Cody Zeller, take a seat. Shot No. 2 for Nikola Jokic is a bruising drive that sends the Heat big man tumbling to the floor. Nuggets 50, Heat 37 w/ 3:21 left in the second quarter. — Matt Schubert
Nikola dropping dimes (7:17 p.m.): We’ve got less than five minutes left in the second quarter, and Nikola Jokic has one field goal attempt, eight assists and four free throws. If this is how the Heat are going to defend him, the Joker is more than happy to set up his teammates. — Matt Schubert
Bam, ouch (7:14 p.m.): Michael Porter Jr. got nailed in the face by the elbow of Bam Adebayo and stayed down on the baseline while Miami scored on an easy 5-on-4. MPJ got up and seemed OK going to the bench. The elbow looked inadvertent in real time, but that didn’t stop Ball Arena from a collective jeer. — Bennett Durando
Faces in the crowd (7:13 p.m.): A whole lotta Broncos sitting courtside tonight. I spied Justin Simmons, Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. So, yeah, the guys with big paychecks. — Matt Schubert
Twilight zone (7:08 p.m.): The Miami Heat is throwing out junk defenses, and it does not matter. Even with Nikola Jokic on the bench, they’re getting good looks. Denver holding steady up 39-31 w/ 7:18 left in the second quarter. — Matt Schubert
A recipe for success (7:06 p.m.): Denver already showed its blueprint for beating the Heat. Miami is playing with four perimeter guys on the floor, allowing Aaron Gordon and Jokic to feast in the paint. Michael Porter Jr. can even create matchup problems if he can be aggressive. — Ryan McFadden
First-quarter musings (7:05 p.m.): Can Nuggets win a seven-game series in a single quarter? No. But the Heat is in a heap of trouble. — Mark Kiszla
First quarter thoughts (7:03 p.m.): How about Nikola Jokic’s first NBA Finals field goal attempt not occurring until the last 10 seconds of the first quarter? And after amassing six assists already. The MVP is teaching the importance of generosity on the big stage. — Bennett Durando
First quarter (7:02 p.m.): Only three scorers in the first quarter for Miami — Bam with 8, Jimmy Butler 7 and 5 for Gabe Vincent — and the Heat only shot 34.6% from the field. Denver, meanwhile, has seen five guys score led by Aaron Gordon’s 12. Jokic’s first bucket came in the final seconds of the period and he’s already got six assists. — Parker Gabriel
First quarter (7:01 p.m.): If you’re a Nuggets fan, that first quarter has to be awful reassuring. If Aaron Gordon is going to dominate his matchup to that extent, it’s going to be a really, really, really short series. Nuggets 29, Heat 20 heading into the second quarter. — Matt Schubert
Braun checks in (6:58 p.m.): NBA Finals minutes for Christian Braun. Unit currently in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter is Brucey B, KCP, Braun, AG and Jokic. — Parker Gabriel
Too small (6:57 p.m.): Points: Nuggets 27, Heat 20. Points in the paint: Nuggets 16, Heat 6. Miami tried Bam Adebayo on Aaron Gordon for a possession after Gordon scored 12 early points. It resulted in Nikola Jokic backing down a guard, drawing a double and kicking for an open 3-pointer. — Bennett Durando
In control (6:54 p.m.): The Nuggets definitely look like a team that’s been sitting around itching to play. And the Heat definitely looking like a team trying to recover from a seven-game bloodbath. 27-20 Nuggets, and it appears the offense now runs through AG. — Matt Schubert
Make that two (6:50 p.m.): The first quarter isn’t even over and we have two blocks from Michael Porter Jr. and 12 points from Aaron Gordon. Clearly, the Heat have themselves an AG problem. — Matt Schubert
AG’s big start (6:48 p.m.): I asked Aaron Gordon yesterday if he thought there was a way to press Denver’s rest advantage besides just playing fast and he laughed and said no, just play fast. What I thought he might say — and what his actions clearly dictate early in Game 1 — is that bully ball is a good way to wear out a rest-deficient opponent, as well.
MPJ’s swat (6:46 p.m.): Jimmy Butler just hunted MPJ on a switch. … And Porter swatted him. On the second-chance? Joker looked like he got a piece of it. Miami opens the game shooting 33% from the field. On the other end, AG feasting. — Mike Singer
Stick to the paint AG (6:45 p.m.): Aaron Gordon’s shot from 3-point range was off by about 3 feet. So what does he do? Head to the paint. Four buckets later, and he is dominating. Nuggets 14, Heat 9 with 6:34 left in the first quarter. — Matt Schubert
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has a brother in Boulder, so he hears all the time about the blackouts that continue to prevent Nuggets fans from watching Nuggets games.
Silver said Thursday night before Game 1 of the NBA Finals that he’s frustrated by the “terrible situation” that is the ongoing standoff between Comcast and Altitude TV, the regional sports network that broadcasts Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche games. Read more…
Ball Arena 6:32 p.m.: Observation: This place is on fire. — Matt Schubert
Game predictions
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: The Fightin’ Nikolas are 5-1 this season in the first game coming off four days or more off. Before the playoffs, they were 18-4 when having a longer break than their opponents. Jimmy Butler loves the underdog tag almost as much as Michael Malone does, but I’m thinking rest overcomes rust in the end. Eventually. Hopefully: Nuggets 113, Miami 104.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: Miami is tired. The Nuggets have fresh legs, not to mention the best player on the planet, a rowdy home court and all sorts of momentum. This isn’t difficult. Prediction: Nuggets 123, Heat 113
Parker Gabriel, sports reporter: The altitude won’t matter. Until the fourth quarter: Denver 115, Miami 104.
Ryan McFadden, sports reporter: Ball Arena will be rocking but Miami won’t be fazed. The Heat will be aggressive from the start, making it a close contest for the majority of the evening. But Denver will find a way to pull through down the stretch to win by seven to eight points. Jokic and Murray will continue to showcase their brilliance.
Pregame updates
How they match up (4:30 p.m.): Mike Singer and Matt Schubert of The Denver Post break down how the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets match up, as well as series predictions and five things to watch. — Joe Nguyen
Nuggets-Heat Game 1: Must reads
Although Nicholas Owens cannot walk, he has been there every step of the way with the Nuggets during their run to the first NBA Finals in team history.
When Owens rolls his wheelchair into the Denver locker room before every home game to study video of Kevin Durant, LeBron James or the next superstar standing in the way of a championship 56 long basketball seasons in the making, center Nikola Jokic greets Nicholas with these words: “Good to see you, my brother.”
If you did not grow up with this franchise, forced to fight for every smidgeon of respect since the Denver Rockets fired their first jump shot as an outlaw in the renegade ABA back in 1967, maybe it’s impossible to fully understand the hullabaloo shaking down thunder in the Rocky Mountains.
What we’re witnessing is more than a quest for a championship by a team born during the 1960s, back when Hampden Avenue marked the end of local civilization rather than the beginning of endless suburban sprawl.
With only Miami left to conquer in the NBA Finals, this unprecedented Nuggets run is a passionate family affair of the heart. Read more…
Nuggets Journal: In reaching NBA Finals, Canada’s Jamal Murray a “pioneer” in more ways than one
The first question Jamal Murray fielded on the eve of Game 1 of the NBA Finals elicited a transcontinental fist pump.
Frankly, it was more a statement than a question. Murray was told of a watch party in his hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. Even just the mention of his hometown brought immense joy to the Canadian’s face.
“I’ve had a lot of friends text me about the watch parties, gathering around,” Murray said. “The support has been crazy back home. That means a lot, especially from a small town like Kitchener. … Be back there in the summer, see my friends and family. But, yeah, no one from Kitchener has made (it) this far, so it’s nice to be a pioneer in that sense.” Read more…
How Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic found his voice and conquered final frontier of his basketball maturation
Now eight years into his Hall-of-Fame-bound career, Jokic is more comfortable speaking than he’s ever been. With his singular intuition and preternatural court vision already established, the final frontier of Jokic’s basketball maturation was always his voice.
With it, he could share his wisdom and wield even more influence over the game than he already did. Late in Game 3, Jokic tapped into it.
That’s when Jokic took over the timeout huddles and explicitly called for Denver’s most potent action — the two-man game between himself and Jamal Murray — in an attempt to pull the Nuggets closer to the NBA Finals than they’d ever been before, Mike Singer reports. Read the full story.
Nuggets fans, Mark Jackson sounds ready to bury the hatchet. Jeff Van Gundy, though?
Dude’s still got an ax he’d like to grind.
“I’ve had no issues at all (with Nuggets players and coaches) and I don’t expect any, other than one or two fans during one of the games in the Western Conference Finals,” Jackson, the ESPN analyst, former Nuggets player and NBA coach revealed during a conference call Tuesday advancing the 2023 NBA Finals.
The 58-year-old, who played 52 games for the Nuggets during the 1996-97 season, incurred the wrath of Denver faithful earlier this month when he admitted to leaving two-time reigning NBA MVP and Mile High icon Nikola Jokic off his 2023 MVP ballot entirely, Sean Keeler writes. Read the full column.
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