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It’s been a long wait in Denver for Nuggets to strike gold
Nuggets fans have been waiting 47 years for their team to make the NBA Finals so you can forgive them for getting rather excited after their game-one victory over Miami.
The final 11-point margin was by no means massive but the manner in which they dismantled the Heat early and then kept them at arm’s length for the rest of the match should concern Miami fans, players and coaches.
Denver fans arrive for game two.Credit: Getty
Miami not only need to improve their defensive effort, particularly on Jokic to stop him setting up his teammates, they have to get better at putting the ball in the basket – they shot just 33% from three-point range and only 41% overall from the field.
Denver looked like they were happy for centre Bam Adebayo to operate in the paint as they focused on shutting down Jimmy Butler and the Heat’s outside shooters. Adebayo finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds but had little assistance from his teammates.
How do you solve a problem like Nikola?
Nikola Jokic dominated Miami in pretty much every facet in game one.
The two-time MVP had a 27-point triple double while guard Jamal Murray scored 26 as they became the first duo in NBA finals history to have at least 25 points and 10 assists in the same game since LA Lakers legends Magic Johnson and James Worthy achieved the feat in 1987.
That’s not bad company to be in.
“I don’t need to shoot and I know I don’t need to score to affect the game,” Jokic said.
Nikola Jokic dominated the Heat.Credit: Getty
Denver coach Michael Malone is worried about complacency creeping into his team.
“I told our players today, don’t read the paper, don’t listen to the folks on the radio and TV saying that this series is over and that we’ve done something, because we haven’t done a damn thing,” Malone said.
“We won Game 1. The reason I told our players I was excited this morning is because we won Game 1 and we didn’t play well, and there’s so many things we can do better.”
Welcome to game two coverage of Nuggets v Heat
Yes, hello and welcome to live coverage of game two of the NBA Finals.
Tip-off is at the slightly earlier time of 10am (AEST) in Denver with the Nuggets looking to go 2-0 up over Miami after their 104-93 triumph in the series opener.
Denver have been red-hot throughout the playoffs and are looking to become the first side to go 10-0 at home to start the post-season since the 2018 Celtics.
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