Denver Nuggets vs Miami Heat

Date
Tue 13th June 2023 (UTC)
Mon 12th June 2023 (Local)

Timestamp
2023-06-13T00:30:00

Time

00:30:00 UTC (18:30:00 Local)

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League
NBA

Season
2022-2023

Round
180

Status
Match Finished

Location
Denver, Colorado
United States
Ball Arena
(19,537 Attendance)

		vs
	94 No timeline found..		89 No timeline found..

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Description

In a closely contested Game 5, Jokić propelled the Nuggets to their first NBA championship in franchise history with a hard-fought 94–89 victory over the Heat. His dominant performance, including 28 points and 16 rebounds, earned him the Finals MVP award. He became the lowest-selected player to ever win Finals MVP, being the 41st pick of the 2014 NBA draft. The Nuggets struggled with their shooting throughout the game, particularly from beyond the arc, as they missed 20 of their first 22 three-point attempts; however, Jokić's efficient 12 of 16 shooting from the field provided a much-needed boost, as he was the only starter across both teams to shoot over 50% from the field. Jokić, who averaged 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists throughout the playoffs, became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in points (600), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single postseason.

Prior to the game, Miami announced that Tyler Herro was listed as active for the first time since he broke his hand in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat trailed by eight early in the first quarter, but a 31–13 run by Miami turned the deficit into a 10-point lead, their largest since Game 2. Adebayo scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half to give the Heat their first halftime lead of the series. The Nuggets, who entered the game with a series shooting average of 37.6% from three-point range, shot a historically poor 6.7% from three-point range in the first half. Additionally, Denver committed 10 turnovers in the first half and missed 10 of their first 19 free throws. Despite their shooting struggles, the Nuggets showed their resiliency, as they stormed back to take an 83–76 lead with 4:43 left in the fourth quarter.

Butler, who made just two field goals in the first 43 minutes of the game, scored 13 consecutive points for Miami to give them a one-point lead with two minutes to go; however, an offensive rebound and tip-in by Brown swung the momentum back in favor of the Nuggets. After a steal and two free throws from Pope, Butler missed a contested 3-pointer and Brown hit free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for Denver. Murray contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Porter Jr. recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets. Butler finished with 21 points on 5 for 18 from the field for the Heat, and Adebayo recorded his fourth 20-point double-double of the series. Although Herro was listed as available, coach Erik Spoelstra elected not to play him. Miami's shooting woes ultimately proved costly, as they shot an inadequate 26% from three-point range and 34% from the field, their lowest percentage of the season.

Denver became the second original ABA franchise, along with the San Antonio Spurs, to win an NBA championship. It was the Nuggets' first league championship after 56 combined years in the ABA and NBA. Denver is also the first Western Conference team from outside the states of California or Texas to win the championship since the 1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics. This was the final game of Haslem's NBA career, as he retired the following month.