MANILA – Denver won in its first-ever National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals game, romping Miami, 104-93, in Game 1 of their championship series on Friday (Philippine) at the Ball Arena in Denver.
The Nuggets dominated the best-of-seven series opener, slowly pulling away from the Heat until they led by as much as 24 points late in the third quarter.
Miami tried to pull a comeback in the fourth quarter, but the team could only draw to as close as nine points.
Nikola Jokic tallied a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut, leading the Nuggets with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists with one block and one steal.
In a rare moment for a center, he already tallied a points-assists double-double by halftime, becoming the first player in six years to tally 10 first-half dimes in a finals game.
“I don’t need to shoot and I know I don’t need to score to affect the game," said Jokic, who tallied his ninth triple-double this playoffs. “The most important thing is to win a game. I’m trying to win a game in any possible way.”
Jamal Murray waxed hot in the first half and finished with 26 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and one steal, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 14 points, 13 rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
Bam Adebayo fired 26 points with 13 rebounds and five assists for the Heat.
Game 2 is on Monday (Philippine Time) also in Denver. (PNA)
