Nuggets move within one win of first NBA title
MIAMI
The Denver Nuggets have moved within one win of their first NBA title, beating Miami 108-95 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Aaron Gordon starred for Denver, putting up 27 points. Nikola Jokic added 23 for the Nuggets, who can secure the championship with a home victory in game five today.
It was a convincing victory for Denver, who were superior in every aspect and had key contributions from across the court, this time by no means reliant on Jokic and Jamaal Murray with Gordon in particular a thorn in Miami's side throughout.
As well as his 11 for 15 shooting, Gordon claimed seven rebounds with six assists and two steals.
The eighth-seeded Heat have made a habit of comebacks and upsets during their run to the finals, but they again looked clear second best against Michael Malone's outstanding team.
Questions had been asked of the Nuggets after they lost game two on their home court, but they leave Miami with two road victories and need one win from three games to clinch the crown.
Denver were up by four at the half, but as in June 7's encounter they took a firm of grip of proceedings during the third quarter where they moved 13 points ahead.
The Nuggets got a scare when Jokic tweaked an ankle in the first quarter and had to cope without the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player for a five minute spell in the fourth when he was benched by Malone after picking up a fifth foul with 9:23 left.
But Miami failed to take advantage, continuing to miss baskets on transition plays and unable to exploit the lack of the Serbian's presence in the paint.
The Heat closed to within 86-81 before Murray drained a huge three and when Jokic came back with 4:09 left, the Nuggets were up nine.
Bruce Brown delivered down the stretch, with three baskets, ending with 21 points on eight of 11 shooting from the field as the Nuggets raced towards the finish line.
"Today was a team effort. I can't even name one person," said Denver guard Jamal Murray. "Everybody locked in.
"We've got one more to go," added Murray, who had 15 points and 12 assists — maintaining his record of double figure assists in each game in the series.
"I give all my credits to my teammates. They did a great job. There's a great team effort on both ends. We've got to do that for one more game and we get our goal," he said.
Miami, who were outgunned in three point shooting 14-8, were led by Jimmy Butler's 25 points with Bam Adebayo adding 20.
"Every time we felt like we got it to six or eight, they were able to push it to 12," said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, who insisted that the series could still be turned around.
