DEN 108 – 95 MIA
An easy win for the Nuggets.
An easy win for the Nuggets.
Aaron Gordon got off to a great start.
He bullied and forced his way to the basket.
Leading his team in scoring. He finally played with the same force as he had played all season, bullying his mismatch defender on every chance.
The Heat made multiple attempts of comeback behind the wizardry of K. Lowry, but fell short due to their own shortcomings and turnover.
If they got stops on defence then they were unable to convert those opportunities into points.
If they finally made a good run with multiple baskets then they gave that away with turnovers or fouls.
In the second half all they could do was scramble to convert shots.
D. Robinson, a huge reason for the Game 2 win, was unable to find his footing when the game was on the line.
The heat didn’t seem centred.
The Nuggets had a pretty decent game, but there were moments that they got sucked into the energy and intensity of the Heat.
Despite having a good consistent lead of 6 and 8 points all game, they kept making rushed plays.
Then, finally when the game was stopped to check the scale of the rim level after a B. Adebayo interference play, they listened to M. Malone’s advice.
Coach Malone said to take it easy, they have a good lead of 8 points.
This led to back to back plays by the Nuggets.
If you witnessed them, they were pure poetry in motion.
No rush, just simple quick passes and a great shot.
Pure Basketball.
Bruce Brown had a great impact in the final minutes. He put a stop on any comeback attempt of heat.
While they were focused on Murray and Jokic (when he wasn’t sitting for 5 fouls), he put the team on his back and made some exceptional plays.
Suddenly the Nuggets, who didn’t seem that far out of reach, just blasted forward putting up a 10-point lead.
J. Murray made an NBA record – he is the only player to have 10+ assists consistently in the first four final games.
Stats:
DEN –
A Gordon – 27 Pts. | 11-15 FG | 3-4 3Pt. | 7 REB | 6 AST
N. Jokic – 23 Pts. | 12 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL | 3 BLK
J. Murray – 15 Pts. | 12 AST
B. Brown – 21 Pts. | 8-11 FG | 3-5 3Pt.
MIA –
J. Butler – 25 Pts | 7 REB | 7 AST
B. Adebayo – 20 Pts. | 11 REB |
K. Lowry – 13 Pts. | 7 AST | 6-6 FT
K. Love – 12 Pts. | 3-5 3Pt | 4 REB
Team Stats :
DEN –
FG% – 49.4%
3 Pt % – 50%
Reb – 34
Ast – 26
BLK – 7
STL – 11
Tov – 6
PIP – 48
MIA –
FG% – 44.9 %
3 Pt % – 32 %
Reb – 37
Ast – 23
BLK – 3
STL – 2
Tov – 14
PIP – 46
Now, the Nuggets 1 win away from their first NBA championship, will they be able to seal the game & the series?
Based on tonight it’s theirs to grab.
Only team to ever make a comeback from a 3-1 deficit is the LeBron James’s 2016 Cavaliers.
Can the Heat pull off yet another stunner?
Game 5 on 13th June, 6 a.m. (IST) @ Ball arena (Denver)
#JOPO 