The Denver Nuggets are just one win away from being crowned the franchise’s first National Basketball Association (NBA) champions.
The Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 108-95 on the road in Game 4 of the best-of-seven 2022-23 NBA Championship on Tuesday night at the Amway Center in Miami, Florida.
With the win, Denver took a 3-1 series lead. They need to win Games 5-7 to clinch their first championship in franchise history.
Denver, which was founded in 1967 as a member of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and joined the NBA in 1976, has yet to 안전놀이터 lift a championship trophy. They haven’t even made it to the championship game. But this season, led by top center Nikola Jokic, they’re on the verge of making history.
Meanwhile, Miami, which is trying to become the first No. 8 seed in NBA history, is on the brink of elimination. After finishing the regular season in seventh place and earning the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference through the play-in tournament, the Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks, who led the league in overall winning percentage (70.7%), as well as the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics on their way to the championship. However, they have struggled against Denver’s high walls.
Denver’s ace Nikola Jokic made a name for himself with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists on the night. He also had three steals and two blocked shots.
But the real star of the game was forward Aaron Gordon. Gordon matched Jokic with 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists on the night. His shooting touch was on point, as he shot 73.3% from the field.
Anchoring Denver’s backcourt was Jamal Murray, who scored just 15 points but dished out 12 assists.
Denver was actually outrebounded by Miami, 34-37, but also dominated on defense, including a 12-6 edge in interceptions.
Miami got 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists from its stars, Jimmy Butler and 20 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Nuggets, who shot just 32% (8-of-25) from three-point range and committed 15 turnovers (to Denver’s six).
Game 5 of the championship, which could clinch the title for Denver, will be played on Dec. 13 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.