![]() A dunk by Adebayo put the Heat up 44-42 with 3:18 left in the half, before a 3-pointer by Murray represented the seventh and final lead change of the night. “That’s a dynamic duo right there.”Īdded Braun: “I would say that it’s what they do every game.” Aaron Gordon added 11 for Denver.Īnd afterward, they both marveled at what their stars did in Game 3. “We were more locked in, more focused,” Jokic said.Ĭhristian Braun was tremendous off the bench for the Nuggets, scoring 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting in 19 minutes. He finished 12 for 21 from the floor, 7 for 8 from the line, playing 44 minutes. It was Jokic's 10th triple-double of these playoffs, extending his single-season record, and he was unbothered by whatever Miami threw his way. Draymond Green, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Butler all had one title series with two triple-doubles. Magic Johnson and LeBron James each did it in three different finals. Officially, Jokic is now the seventh player to have two triple-doubles in the same finals. “And both those guys are elite-level talent.” “You have to expect there to be elite talent in the finals,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Murray and Jokic had the Nuggets too far ahead to get caught. The Heat got within nine on a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson with 1:22 left, but there was no epic finish for Miami. The lead eventually reached 21, the outcome never seriously in doubt, and Jokic looking very much like he's back in cruise control. “Tonight, we win the fourth quarter, we win the game.” “First two games, they won the fourth quarter,” Malone said. The Heat were down by 14 going into the fourth, and Malone reminded his club of Miami’s penchant for comebacks. Miami has been the comeback kings of these playoffs - seven rallies in games after trailing by at least 12 points. “But if we want to win, we're going to have to figure it out.” “It's not an easy task to do,” Butler said. Somehow, some way, the Heat know they need to find an answer before Friday. Jokic and Murray combined for 20 assists Miami had exactly that many. Jokic and Murray combined for 31 rebounds Miami had 33. Jokic and Murray combined for 24 field goals Miami had 34. “We've got to come out with more energy and effort and that's correctable,” Butler said. Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds. “It was a big one for us because they won in our arena. “I’m just glad that we won the game,” Jokic said. The Nuggets outrebounded the Heat 58-33, and took a 2-1 lead. Murray had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the rebound he needed with 9 seconds remaining. Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists - the first such game in NBA Finals history, or at least the first since assists were tracked. ![]() “By far, their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, after his team moved two wins away from Denver's first title. Jokic and Murray became the first teammates in NBA Finals history to both record triple-doubles, and the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series by beating the Miami Heat 109-94 in Game 3. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray made history Wednesday night - and have the Denver Nuggets two wins away from making some real history as well. MIAMI - Never had two players from the same team had 30-point triple-doubles in the same game. Jokic and Murray both have triple-doubles, Nuggets beat Heat 109-94 for 2-1 lead ![]()
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