Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets closed the NBA Finals in a rather quick five-game series. They hosted Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat for Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals on Monday night. After a closely-contested tussle, the Nuggets eventually took off in the second half and outscored the Heat in the third and fourth quarters for the 94-89 win.

The Denver Nuggets Are Your New NBA Champions

Game 5 As It Happened

Denver is a no-fuss team. It doesn’t matter if they win in style or win ugly, winning is an integral part of this squad. That’s what they did on Monday night. This resilient team won the franchise’s first championship in its 47-year NBA history. They overcame a ten-point deficit and poor three-point shooting (16.7% from deep) while outscoring the Heat 50 to 38 in the second half.

The Nuggets had no firepower from deep. They were pretty lucky that the Heat struggled to shoot from downtown. The hosts committed careless turnovers but defended the basket well. Aaron Gordon played a pivotal role in Game 5, collecting steals, dimes, boards, and blocks.

Bruce Brown’s journey to his first ring is also memorable after breathing some life into the team with a putback and 1:31 left on the clock to take the one-point lead. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a solid piece to the team and hit clutch free-throws for a three-point Nuggets lead. Miami tried to hang on, but Jimmy Butler wasn’t doing any better from the three-point line.

Ultimately, the team’s success is a reflection of its contributions from starters and the bench. Their talent emerged as superior over five games in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Nikola Jokic Named 2023 Finals MVP

Some will say that the Serbian was robbed of the season MVP trophy when it was awarded to Joel Embiid. However, there’s no denying that the big man played a crucial role in both the regular-season and playoff campaign of the Denver Nuggets. He closed Game 5 with another double-double performance, recording 28 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists in the hard-fought victory. He shot with confidence and hit 12 of 16 attempts from the field and played a team-high 42 minutes in the series-clinching win.

Jokic also broke Wilt Chamberlain’s record for the most triple-double performance in a playoff run with ten. Moreover, he averaged a triple-double in two of the four playoff series he played in this season.

The 2014 NBA Draft second-round and 41st pick overall is only 28 years old. We anticipate more success for the center in his already decorated basketball career. He’s only about to enter his prime and it’s not crazy to think he can win a few more rings with the Nuggets in the coming years.

Jamal Murray’s Comeback

The narrative also showcases how much of an impact Jamal Murray is on the team. Despite shooting an underwhelming six of 15 from the floor, he facilitated crafty plays in the second half to help his side overcome a persistent Heat squad. Murray helped the Nuggets win after a 14-point, eight-rebound, and eight-assist performance. More than that, the Nuggets hit +12 when he was on the floor, which is a strong indicator of his overall impact on the team.

His duo with Jokic dominated each and single one of their playoff opponents. They set the new pick-and-roll standard this season and his first showcase of skill since tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in 2021. They produced the first dual triple-double in NBA history in Game 3 and accomplished something reminiscent of Karl Malone and John Stockton, but better.

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