On June 2, Beijing time, the NBA Finals began. The Heat headed to the road to challenge the Nuggets. In this battle, both teams showed high-quality defense.
Nuggets vs Heat
The Nuggets led 1-0
Jokic teamed up with Murray to lead the team to play a wonderful combination in the first half, and the Nuggets achieved a national soldier and gradually occupied the initiative on the court. After the first two quarters, the Heat trailed by 17 points. Adebayo led the team to chase points, but the Nuggets became more courageous and at one point extended the gap to 24 points. In the final quarter, Miami launched a Jedi counterattack, Lowry teamed up with Highsmith to storm away, and the difference was forced to close to single digits at one point. However, Jokic teamed up with Murray to stabilize the game with singles and solid free throws. The Heat continue to chase points, but time is running out. In the end, the Nuggets won the first game of the Finals 104-93, leading 1-0. Denver, who have made the opener, will play their second match at home to Miami.
The Nuggets led the Heat 1-0
Jokic blew the record, Nuggets 1-0 lead! Famous mouth angrily criticizes Butler! Heat 3 Shooter Lost!
Jokic smashed the record
In this game, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic played a perfect performance. Jokic shot 67 percent from the field and recorded a triple-double of 27 points, 10 boards, 14 assists, one steal and one block. As the scoring champion of this game, Jokic only conceded four goals in the game, and he was in hot form on the offensive end. Also, Jokic led the team in rebounding. At the same time, Jokic's number of assists is the highest in the game. Jokic, who achieved an all-round rampage, had only 2 turnovers and a plus-minus of +14.
Nuggets Jokic
It is worth mentioning that Jokic also broke the record in this battle. No. 1, Jokic also became the third player in NBA history to record at least 450 points, 200 rebounds and 150 assists in a single-season playoffs, along with James and Larry Bird.
No. 2, Jokic shot 3 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line in the first half, scored 10 points, and also gave 10 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. According to statistics, Jokic became the second player in NBA history to cut at least 10 points and 10 assists in any half of the Finals in nearly 25 years, the first being LeBron James.
Jokic with LeBron James
Third, this is the second time in Jokic of his playoff career that he has recorded at least 10 points and 10 assists in the first half, and he has become the fifth player in the NBA since 1997 to record at least 10 points and 10 assists in the first half of the playoffs on multiple occasions.
No. 4, Jokic is only the second player in NBA Finals history to give out at least 10 assists in the half, the first being James (2017 Finals G2, 18 points and 10 assists in the first half).
No. 5, this is the 15th trip-double in Jokic's career playoffs. It ranks third all-time, behind Magic (30) and James (28).
Jokic
No. 6, Jokic became only the second player in NBA history to record a triple-double in his Finals debut, along with Jason Kidd (who played against the Lakers in 2002).
Jokic rivals NBA legend Kidd
No. 7, Jokic's 14 assists are also the highest in NBA history for a player to make a Finals debut.
8. After Jokic became James Worthy, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, the fourth player to cut 25+10+10 in the Finals with 60% or more.
Jokic set a record
No. 9, this is Jokic's ninth triple-double in the playoffs this season, continuing to break his own record for a single-year playoff triple-double in NBA history.
10. Jokic became the fifth center in NBA history to score a triple-double in the Finals, the first four being Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Wes Unseld and Duff Cowens.
11th, Murray's backcourt core Jamal Murray contributed 26 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and 1 steal. According to statistics, Jokic and Murray are the third pair in NBA Finals history to give out 10+ assists in the same game, the other two teams are Jordan & Pippen and Magic & Worthy.
Jokic and Murray are a legendary combination of 2 major combinations
No. 12, Jokic and Murray scored at least 25 points and 10 assists in the same game in the Finals, becoming only the second pair in history to achieve this feat, the other being Lakers star Magic and James Worthy who did so in the 1987 Finals.
13th, the final debut cut at least 25 points, 5 boards and 10 assists, Jokic and Murray are less than Jordan and Wei in history, only these four have done it.
While smashing the record, Jokic has led the Nuggets to seven straight wins in this playoffs. In addition, the Nuggets have a 9-0 record at home in this playoffs, and they have not tasted defeat.
Nikolai Jokic
With a flawless performance on his Finals debut, Jokic, who averaged a triple-double per game in the playoffs, is destined to become one of the best interior players in NBA history.
The famous mouth angrily criticized Butler
On the other hand, Heat star Jimmy Butler did not play well. Butler had 13 points, 7 boards, 7 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. In the second half, Butler scored just six points. At the same time, Butler scored only 2 points in the final quarter. Butler's slump was the main reason the Heat failed to mount a 24-point comeback.
Butler defends Jokic
In this game, Butler made 0 free throws and lacked strength on the offensive end. Butler's plus-minus is still the lowest -17 in the game. As the star, Butler did not carry the team. Butler's score also set a new personal low in this playoffs.
NBA legend Skip commented on Butler after the game, writing: "Butler played another weird game: he came up and made two shots, and then he sleepwalked. There was no hard hitting and no threat. It's just weird..."
The famous mouth angrily criticized Butler
The famous mouth obviously criticized Butler, believing that he lacked aggression and was not a threat on the field, as if sleepwalking. Butler, who led the Heat all the way to the counterattack, completely sank in the first game of the Finals, which is no wonder that Skip angrily criticized Butler.
Heat 3 Shots Lost
In addition, the Heat's three top marksmen Koreb Martin, Strus, and Duncan Robinson were also completely lost in this game. Before entering the Finals, Martin averaged 19 points per game in this playoffs, and was the hero of the Heat's Eastern Conference final. However, Martin fell into the vicious circle of frequent iron strikes in this battle. Martin shot 1-of-7 and 1-of-2 from three-pointers, scoring just 3 points. In that game, Martin's shooting percentage was only 14%, which was a big mistake.
Korebmarin
As a shooter on the outside that the Heat relied on, Strus was even worse off in the game. Strus shot 0-of-10 from the field and 0-of-9 from three-pointers and scored no points. He made the most three-pointers of the game, but Strus failed to hit one. Strus shot 0 from the field and three-point range, and he was completely invisible.
Strus
Duncan Robinson, who once competed in the three-point contest and won the Heat's all-time three-point title, did not perform well in this game. Duncan Robinson shot 1-of-6 and 1-of-5 from three-point range, scoring just 3 points. Duncan Robinson's shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage are only 17% and 20%, respectively.
Duncan Robinson made a three-pointer
The three top marksmen Duncan Robinson, Struss and Martin only had a total of 6 points, and their collective loss was an important reason for the Heat's loss.