Nikola Jokić once again took charge.
After taking a late lead in Game 2, Jokić and the Nuggets earned a convincing 109-94 win over the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. Thanks to another historic triple-double from Jokić and a 32-point triple-double performance from Jamal Murray, the Nuggets easily slipped past the Heat in the second half to take a 2-1 lead.
Denver held a mere 5-point lead at halftime, and the two teams wobbled back and forth for the first two quarters. However, Murray and Jokić absolutely dominated. Jokić was just three rebounds short of his triple-double at halftime, and Murray went into the dressing room with 20 points.
The Nuggets then quickly extended that lead to 14 points in the third quarter before opening the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run. That gave Denver a 21-point lead. Though the Heat briefly reduced the game to single digits in the closing minutes, the Nuggets were able to maintain the 15-point win.
Jokić finished the NBA Finals with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double. He is also the first player in league history to have at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a finals game. Only two other players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain, have generally come up with that statistic in a playoff game.
Murray also had a triple-double himself. He contributed 34 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in Denver’s win. Former Kansas star Christian Braun also shone in the second half. In the last 24 minutes, he collected all 15 points and shot a near-perfect 7-of-8 from the field.
Jimmy Butler led the heat with 28 points. Bam Adebayo finished the game with 22 points and 17 rebounds, and Caleb Martin added 10 points from the bench.
Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Friday night in Miami.
Nikola Jokić dropped another triple-double in Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Miami Wednesday night. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
What: NBA Finals Game 4 (Nuggets lead 2-1)
WHO: Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat
If: Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Cashier Center, Miami
TV: ABC
Time schedule:
Game 5: In Denver, Monday 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
*Game 6: In Miami, 8:30 p.m. ET, June 15 (ABC)
*Game 7: In Denver, 8:00 p.m. ET, June 18 (ABC)
* – If necessary
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