ANDhe world has a king. Nikola Jokic, the star that breaks barriers, changes the way of understanding basketball. The Serbian led his Denver Nuggets to the first ring in franchise history. To the first of the Joker, with 28 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists. MVP, reference. From the triple game of Curry and his Warriors, to the base of more than two meters and 120 kilos. A countercultural ‘guy’ who takes the best team in the world to heaven in 2022-23.
Champions in the way that nobody expected (94-89). With very low records of 56% from shots from two and 17.9 from triple. But knowing how to compete, fight and enhance his arguments that begin and end with the brutal Nikola Jokic. His first ring, it seems that of many after a fifth game in which the drama was touched by hand. A Jimmy Butler three-pointer fell short after an epic reaction. Added a key loss. He would have changed things.
Lots of nerves for Denver
Ring. Although the first times they also have nerves. Denver, with the Ball Arena boiling, started nervously. Miami put a 0-5 start after Adebayo’s dunk, Strus’ triple and some inaccuracies from Malone’s men. But they changed history. Two from Caldwell-Pope closed the wound and from there came the energy and verticality defined by Jamal Murray’s ‘tomahawk’ or Porter Jr.’s transitions. The 12-0 run (12-5, 7′) was the first stone for peace of mind.
Jamal Murray’s impressive dunk in the fifth game of the final
Although it was not a breach. Miami, true to form, peel. Bam Adebayo (14+6 in the first quarter), key to his finals, scored 10 points in a row and drew two fouls on Jokic. A streak that got them into the game, although four to answer from Porter Jr. cut the local blood flow (22-24, 12′) in a first quarter with only two triples between the two teams. Miami was in command against an overly nervous Nuggets. His triples did not enter and with the appearance of Butler in the game -four in a row-, the aggressiveness of Martin -another four- and a triple plus a layup from Robinson gave a blow to the table (29-39, 17′).
The cravings were notable in the Most failing Nuggets of all finals. 10 losses and 1/15 from the triple at halftime. Terrible shooting card and one that cut through any reaction. Adebayo punished a conditioned Jokic, although little by little carbureting in attack, and the rubber was stretched at half-time (44-51, 24′). The best thing for Denver was a not too exaggerated score against him made up by a dunk from Porter Jr. before the break.
Nuggets reaction
Unbecoming for the Nuggets, who they took out their part of the heart at the dawn of the second half. Jokic took the zone by the horns with eight points and five rebounds, and Jamal Murray set up the Nuggets’ second three-pointer in a half-hour game. In 18 attempts… but it served to tie (60-60, 30′).
They had come back to life and even after another triple by Porter Jr. they were placed with the first lead since 18-16. Although Miami was not affected, feeding Adebayo and hitting with a long shot from Kyle Lowry to keep the game going (70-71, 35′).
Three-pointer by Porter JR. to break a bad streak
Precisely, another triple from Lowry stopped a first serious acceleration from Denver. Jokic led it, fighting against Adebayo, and a triple from Murray (79-76, 40′). The Nuggets were on time. Miami couldn’t find Jimmy Butler, failing and failing with apparent physical difficulties. And the locals accelerated with a brutal Gordon in defense and the killer middle distance of the ‘Blue Arrow’.
Butler’s Appearance
It didn’t serve to break the ending. Miami found, more than 45 minutes later, Jimmy Butler. Two consecutive triples, three free throws -more than debatable when considered by Gordon’s drop zone-, a medium distance and two other shots from the personal they gave life, in death, to the Heat (88-89, 46′).
Tremendous block by Aaron Gordon in the last quarter
Time to assert yourself. Champions time. The Nuggets were on the ropes. And when the Larry O’Brien escaped, the secondary ones drew their last breath. Brown grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on Murray’s error. Butler wanted to answer but when taking the pass rob Caldwell-Pope. After missing he scored the two free throws that put them in charge before the last possession (92-89).
Butler wanted to resolve. With 17 seconds on the clock, he decided to assume and very hastily launched an impossible triple on Aaron Gordon. I did not enter and Bruce Brown grabbed another rebound to give the Denver Nuggets the title. Butler’s 11 straight came to nothing, Denver had survived an impossible.
With a new rebound from Caldwell-Pope it was confirmed. The new king of the world is Nikola Jokic. The player who dominated the final from start to finish. With more or less brightness, but always faithful to his style. Generate, over and over again. The era of the Joker has arrived. He is the king of world basketball.
