![]() scored 11 points, and reserve Bruce Brown had 21 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as Denver’s overall talent put away Miami. Murray had 15 points and 12 assists (he’s reached at least 10 assists in every game of the Finals), Michael Porter Jr. Denver’s starters outscored Miami’s starters 83-59, and the Nuggets shot 49.4% from the field and 50% on 3-pointers. It didn’t require a triple-double from Jokic or a 30-point performance from Jamal Murray. It was simply a solid, efficient all-around performance from the Nuggets. The Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 became the only team to come back from a 3-1 deficit (against Golden State) and win the title. A team that takes a 3-1 series lead is 267-13 in the NBA playoffs, and teams are 35-1 in the NBA Finals when up 3-1. Whether it’s that game or another in the series, history is on Denver’s side. "We have to win another game to be world champions, and we're going to do that by simply taking it one quarter at a time." "We know we're going to have to go home and turn off the TV, the radio, don't read the papers, don't listen to everybody telling you how great you are because we haven't done a damn thing yet," he added. But we're not celebrating like we've done anything yet," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "I told our guys, the first thing I said, we're not celebrating. ET, ABC), and the Nuggets can close out the series in front of their fans. Nuggets star Nikola Jokic continued his MVP-like dominance with 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks, and Aaron Gordon delivered a playoff-career high 27 points along with six rebounds and six assists. You look over there during timeouts, halftime, pregame, prep, all that stuff is a 10 out of 10 with our coaching staff and Coach Spo.MIAMI - The Denver Nuggets are one victory from the franchise’s first NBA championship.ĭenver topped the Miami Heat 108-95 Friday in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, taking a 3-1 series lead. "Coach Spo, having been here and having a storied and decorated career, it’s a beautiful thing to have him on that sideline," Love said. "That veteran experience, the dedicated championship-level experience that K-Love and Kyle (Lowry) both brought tonight, there's not an analytic that can show you how valuable that was," Spoelstra said.Īnd Love appreciates what Spoelstra brings. ![]() The Heat are 12-5 when Love plays in the playoffs. Spoelstra reset the starting lineup, and it worked. Again, this is a great group to be a cheerleader for." "I obviously was eager, wanted to play, kept myself ready," Love said, adding, "The beauty of it is you get to reset the deck, figure out what the matchups are going to look like in this series. He knew when Boston went small in the previous round that his role would be reduced. Love, a 15-year veteran that includes a pivotal role in helping Cleveland overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit to win the 2016 NBA championship, understands his role at this point in his career. 'FIND A WAY TO WIN': Heat show Nuggets NBA Finals won't be walkover ![]() NBA FINALS: Miami Heat steal Game 2 in Denver to even series with Nuggets Spoelstra needed another big in the rotation against the Nuggets' starting five. In the Finals opener, Denver's size overpowered Miami. ![]() It was a quick turnaround between Game 7 of the East finals and Game 1 of the NBA Finals, so Spoelstra didn't make another lineup change. "Then, we're facing a new opponent that we don't really know, and so we just went with what finished that previous series." "We had to make an adjustment in that Boston series, and that really was necessary and it worked," Spoelstra said of a smaller lineup he used against the Celtics. ![]()
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