MIAMI (AP) — Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray grew to become the primary teammates in NBA Finals historical past to each document triple-doubles, and Denver’s two stars made positive the Nuggets reclaimed the lead within the collection by beating the Miami Warmth 109-94 in Recreation 3 on Wednesday evening.
Jokić completed with 32 factors, 21 rebounds and 10 assists—the primary such recreation in NBA Finals historical past, or at the very least the primary since assists have been tracked. Murray had 34 factors, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the rebound he wanted with 9 seconds remaining.
The Nuggets out rebounded the Warmth 58-33, and took a 2-1 lead. Recreation 4 is Friday in Miami.
Jimmy Butler scored 28 factors for Miami, and Bam Adebayo completed with 22 factors and 17 rebounds. Caleb Martin added 10 factors for Miami.
Miami has been the comeback kings of those playoffs—seven rallies in video games after trailing by at the very least 12 factors. The Warmth have been down by 14 going into the fourth, and Nuggets coach Michael Malone reminded his membership of Miami’s penchant for comebacks.
“First two video games, they gained the fourth quarter,” Malone stated. “Tonight, we win the fourth quarter, we win the sport.”
His staff listened.
The lead finally reached 21, the result by no means significantly doubtful, and Jokić trying very very like he is again in cruise management. The Warmth bought inside 9 on a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson with 1:22 left, however there was no epic end for Miami.
Formally, Jokić is now the seventh participant to have two triple-doubles in the identical finals. Magic Johnson and LeBron James every did it in three completely different finals. Draymond Inexperienced, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Chicken and Butler all had one title collection with two triple-doubles.
It was his tenth triple-double of those playoffs, extending his single-season document, and he was unbothered by no matter Miami threw his means. Jokić completed 12 for 21 from the ground, 7 for 8 from the road, taking part in 44 minutes.
Christian Braun was great off the bench for the Nuggets, scoring 15 factors on 7-for-8 capturing in 19 minutes. Aaron Gordon added 11 for Denver.
Miami by no means led within the second half. A dunk by Adebayo put the Warmth up 44-42 with 3:18 left within the half, earlier than a 3-pointer by Murray represented the seventh and closing lead change of the evening. It was 53-48 at halftime, earlier than Denver pushed the result in double digits for the primary time early within the third and wound up main by as many as 19 later in that interval.
