Miami Heat Overcome Nikola Jokic’s 41 Points to Defeat Denver Nuggets and Tie NBA Finals at 1-1

By Mahmoud Beltagy On Jun 5, 2023

The Miami Heat managed to withstand Nikola Jokic’s impressive 41-point performance, rallying in the final quarter to defeat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 on Sunday in the second game of the NBA Finals. This victory tied the series at 1-1.

Miami started strong in Game 2, taking a 21-10 lead midway through the first quarter. However, the Nuggets quickly answered back with a 45-14 run in the second quarter, flipping the score with a 26-point advantage and seizing control.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, who only attempted three shots in the first half of the opening game, was more offensively active on Sunday. He made 6 of 13 field goals and scored 13 points, leading his team at halftime.

Heat’s postseason stars Max Strus and Caleb Martin shook off their dismal first game performance, where the duo combined for a meager 1 of 17 points from the field. They scored 26 points on 9 of 16 shots as Miami closed the half with a 14-5 run, trailing by six points.

Miami kept the game close throughout most of the third quarter, tying the Nuggets several times but ultimately falling short against Jokic, who scored 18 of the Nuggets’ 26 points for an eight-point lead entering the final quarter.

The Heat did not back down and started the last quarter with a 13-2 run, including 10 points from Duncan Robinson, to take an 88-85 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Miami continued its run, establishing a double-digit lead at 107-95, until the Nuggets responded with an 11-2 streak, including a three-pointer from Denver’s Jamal Murray. This cut the deficit to three points with just over a minute left.

After a Jokic basket brought the score to 111-108, Murray missed a three-pointer that could have tied the game in the final seconds. This ended the Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak at the Ball Arena this postseason.

Before Sunday, Denver was 11-0 in the postseason when leading by double-digit points and 37-1 this season when holding at least an eight-point lead entering the final quarter.

Miami outscored the Nuggets 36-25 in the final quarter, with Jimmy Butler finishing with 21 points and nine assists in the win. Center Bam Adebayo added 21 points and nine rebounds, while Gabe Vincent ended with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting.

In the postgame press conference, Butler discussed the Heat’s mentality, emphasizing their focus on winning. “We don’t worry about what others think,” he said. “We’re so focused on what we do well and who we are as a group that, at the end of the day, we rely on that.”

Jokic finished the game with 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, becoming the first center in NBA history to record over 500 points and more than 100 assists in a single postseason. Murray contributed 18 points and 10 assists in the loss.

Denver Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone expressed disappointment with his team’s effort in the second game. “We’re in the NBA Finals, and we’re talking about effort,” said Malone. “It’s really baffling, disappointing.”