Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has seen many exceptional performances from the team’s star duo, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Following Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Malone had no trouble assessing their efforts: “By far their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together,” he said.
In a historic night, Jokic tallied 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Murray also achieved a triple-double, leading the Nuggets to a 109-94 victory over the host Miami Heat. Denver now holds a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
Jokic made history by becoming the first player ever to log at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game. Murray scored a game-high 34 points, along with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. This marked the first time in NBA history that two players on the same team scored 30 points during a triple-double.
“Regarding Nikola, nothing he does surprises me, ever,” Malone said. “The guy has shown over and over again that he’s built for these moments. He thrives on these moments, the biggest stage, and he did that again tonight.”
As for Murray, Malone praised his fearlessness and excitement for the game. Murray had missed the last two postseasons due to a knee injury and was eager to return to the court.
The Heat’s Jimmy Butler scored 28 points, and Bam Adebayo added 22 points and 17 rebounds. However, they trailed by as many as 21 points. “We didn’t play our best tonight,” Butler said. “We got to come out with more energy and effort.” Game 4 is set for Friday night in Miami.
The Nuggets are now just two victories away from their first NBA title, thanks in large part to the exceptional performances by Jokic and Murray. Christian Braun contributed 15 points off the bench, and Aaron Gordon had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for Denver.
Jokic now has three of the five 30-20-10 performances in NBA postseason history, with the others achieved by Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite his memorable performance, Jokic remained humble: “I’m just glad we won the game,” he said.
Denver outperformed Miami in several areas, shooting 51.2% from the field and dominating the rebounds 58-33. The Nuggets’ 60-34 edge in points in the paint also proved crucial. “They just pummeled us in the paint,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “They didn’t even have to shoot threes… we didn’t offer much resistance.”
The Nuggets’ strong performance in the second half helped to secure their victory, leading by five at halftime and later pulling away with a 21-9 surge. Miami attempted to narrow the gap in the final minutes but ultimately fell short.
With the Nuggets now holding a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals, all eyes will be on Game 4 this Friday night.
