You wanted a great Finals? Well you got a great Finals. We’re only 3 games in and we’ve already got records! And how many years has it been since we’ve seen such a surprise Finals? All the usual suspects have been kicked off the court and the unlikely sight of the Denver Nuggets hosting the 8th seed from the East is what we have left. And what a sight they’ve been. Let’s break them down.
Game 1: In Denver, Ball Arena. The Nuggets have been off for 9 days after dispatching the Lakers in 4 straight games. Will they be well rested or rusty? Turns out, well rested. Denver, behind a triple double from the Joker, Nikola Jokic, beat Miami 104-93. Not missing a beat, Jokic went 8 from 12 and 10 for 12 from the line while adding 10 rebounds and 14 assists. If you’re unfamiliar with the Joker’s game, he has extraordinary court vision and passing skills, reminiscent of the great Larry Bird. A treat to watch, if you have the opportunity to watch one of the most skilled big men in NBA history at the top of his game, take it.
This is the first time in history that after a full regular season, a number 8 seed played in the Finals. It’s also the first Game #1 that Miami loses this postseason.
Game 2: Denver, Ball Arena. The Heat, behind playoff Jimmy, tie up the series with a win on the road in Denver squeaking out a win at the very last moment and winning 111-108. It’s a real team effort with 5 Heat players recording more than 10 points. Jimmy ends up with a modest 21 on atrocious shooting. Good thing he has support and a solid bench. Tonight Gabe Vincent drops 23, Bam Adebyo records 21 and off the bench, Duncan Robinson gives them 10.
The series is now tied 1-1 and headed back to Miami after a 2 day break.
Game 3: Miami, Kaseya Center. It’s interesting how each game in a 7 game series becomes more important. Game 1 is important because it gives one team the lead in the series but game 2 is even more important because either a team establishes a 2-0 lead or the team which lost the first game is successful in tying the series back up. Game 3 becomes even more important and so on. And in this series’ game 3, for the first time in NBA history, 2 teammates both recorded triple doubles in the same game and it propelled them to victory. It’s the first time for the regular season or the playoffs and we’ve seen it happen in the Finals. Denver 109-94, behind triple doubles for both Jokic and Canadian boy Jamal Murray. The Joker was 32-21-10 and Murray recorded 34-10-10.
Playoff Jimmy had 28 points on 11-24 shooting, just not efficient enough on this night.
Which leads us to Game 4 tonight in Miami. The most important game in the series – so far. Miami will be desperate. They cannot afford to go down 3-1 in their own building with 2 more games scheduled in Denver even though they’ve been the road warriors during these playoffs winning 7 already. Denver on the other hand knows that winning tonight puts the Head in a chokehold and one so tight they aren’t likely to get out of. Which will it be? Stay tuned tonight to find out.