Monstrous Jokic-Murrays! Denver clears Miami and goes ahead 2-1

After hitting the fence in the fourth period of game 2, Denver responds with the personality of the great teams in the third match of the series, destroying Miami and thus regaining the home advantage in the Finals. Driven by Jokic-Murray, the Nuggets beat the Heat 109-94 to lead 2-1 in the series. Truly spatial game for the Serbian and the Canadian who become the first couple in the history of the NBA, regular season and playoffs, to score a triple double with at least 30 points on the scoresheet in the same game. The fact that such a record arrives in the Finals says a lot about the character and personality of Jokic (32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists) and Murray (34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) capable of raising the level in a exponential when the limelight is brightest.

Different attitude

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Denver seems to have understood the message of coach Malone and starts with a very different attitude compared to game-2. Jokic immediately tries to play the charge, supported by a very aggressive Murray. On the other hand, however, the energy of an Adebayo who attacks the basket, with fluctuating results, helps coach Spoelstra’s troops a lot. Jokic does a bit of everything and with his movements under the basket he carries the away team forward. Butler decides to accelerate in the final minutes of the first half and with three consecutive baskets evens the score. The Nuggets offense receives too little from starters who aren’t named Jokic or Murray, Braun and Green’s excellent minutes off the bench therefore serve as bread for coach Malone at the start of the second period. Gordon tries to attack the iron with his head down but can’t get back on track, Denver still stays in front until Martin wakes up. Eight consecutive points from the player who started in game-1 put the home team back in front. The Kaseya Center is once again noisy but an excellent Murray takes care of silencing the Miami fans with two triples from him. A couple of whistles that the home crowd don’t like send the Nuggets into the bonus, so Denver manages with a certain discipline, the word repeated several times by coach Malone in the press conference on the eve of game 3, the end of the first half and arrives at rest five lengths ahead, 53-48.

The escape

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Denver also starts well at the beginning of the second half and scores the first six points of the third quarter, thus touching the double-digit lead. Miami struggles to keep pace with the Colorado team with a Jokic who, just like in game-2, takes possession of the third quarter. Gordon shows some signs of life, Porter Jr. and Caldwell-Pope, on the other hand, are too inconclusive. Butler and Adebayo try to keep Miami in line but the Nuggets play better and with the entry of an excellent Braun they run away. The ex Kansas leaves his mark in the final part of the third period, Denver arrives at +19 then suffers a triple from Robinson and a basket from Butler in the final seconds and closes the fraction ahead by 14 lengths. Coach Malone rewards a really solid Braun (15 points) with the minutes of a disappointing Porter Jr. who remains on the bench in the fourth period and the rookie responds well, pushing the guests to +21. As usual, Miami does not give up an inch and tries to put Denver in difficulty until the end but, despite some thrills in the final for Robinson’s triples, the Nuggets remain at a safe distance, thus moving on to lead in the series, with race 4 which will be staged on Friday in Miami.

You love me: Butler 28 (10/20, 1/4, 5/6 tl), Adebayo 22, Martin 10. Rebounds: Adebayo 17. Assists: Lowry, Strus 5.

Denver: Murray 34 (9/16, 3/6, 7/8 tl), Jokic 32, Braun 15. Rebounds: Jokic 21. Assists: Murray, Jokic 10.