The Denver Nuggets will be the NBA champions in 2023.
Nikola Jokic’s impressive performance led Denver to their first NBA championship in the franchise’s history. The Heat were defeated 94-89 by Denver in Game 5, bringing the series to a 4-1 score. Jokic was named the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. In the victory, he had 28 points, 16 rebounds, and a total of 94-89. The series is now 4-1.
The Heat was on the verge of one of the most unlikely championship runs in the history of the league, but the No. Eight seeded team failed to win away. Jimmy Butler scored 21 points but shot only 5 of 18 from the field.
Since 2003, the NBA playoffs have been played in a best of seven format. The NBA does no reseed the teams after each round. Therefore, the bracket was determined at the beginning.
The NBA play-in tournament determines which two teams will be the final teams of each conference.
Review the five-game Nuggets-Heat series here.
RECAPS: Conf. finals | Conf. Semis | First round | Play-in
NBA FINALS
Game 1 Nuggets 104 and Heat 93
Game 2 Heat 111 Nuggets
Game 3 Nuggets 109 Heat 94
Game 4 Nuggets: 108, Heat: 95
Game 5 Nuggets 95, Heat 89
Nuggets win Game 5 94-89 over Heat
Leaders
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Nuggets, Nikola Jokic —
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Nikola Jokic, Nuggets – 16
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Jamal Murray (Nuggets) — 8 assists
Game 5 box score | Game 5 highlights
1:10
Nuggets celebrate their first championship in franchise history by running out the clock
Kyle Lowry fails to make a final 3-pointer as the Nuggets win the NBA championship by running out the clock.
Tweet of the night
Denver needed to earn the championship
Tonight, they will not have it easy.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 13, 2023
Lowe: The seven-year journey that led to the Denver Nuggets becoming the NBA champions in 2023
The Nuggets have spent the last decade building up to this, their first championship in franchise history. From legends draft picks and devastating injuries. Zach Lowe writes that they may be just getting started.
How the Nuggets developed, cultivated NBA’s most dynamic pair
Denver’s title run goes back much further than the 2014 NBA Draft. Ramona Shelburne tells the story of the Nuggets’ star duo and their belief in them.
Tales from Nikola Jokic’s Journey to a Title
Eight stories, eight writers. The Nuggets’ 2023 NBA championship title is the perfect time to reveal the most important moments of Nikola Jokics Hall-of-Fame-career. Here’s the link.
Nuggets 108 Heat 105
Leaders
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Aaron Gordon, Nuggets – 27 points
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Nikola Jokic — Nuggets – 12 Rebounds
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Jamal Murray (Nuggets) — 12 assists
Game 4 highlights| Game 4 highlights
3:46
Nuggets dominate Game 4
Nuggets wins Game 4 with a score of 105-85, and leads the series 3-1.
Tweet of the night
Miami has been on a roll in the playoffs. Denver’s better.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 10, 2023
Aaron Gordon became a perfect match for Denver’s offensive hierarchy
Ramona Shlburne writes, not even Nuggets management knew that they would be getting a key player in a championship in 2021 when they acquired the former Magic forward.
Miami Heat star-searching likely after Game 4 Loss
Brian Windhorst writes that despite losing the NBA finals 3-1, Miami will still be a major player in this offseason.
Nuggets 109 Heat 94 in Game 3.
Leaders
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Jamal Murray (Nuggets) — 34 points
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Nikola Jokic has 21 rebounds for the Nuggets.
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Assists: Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, Nuggets – 10 assists
Game 3 highlights| Game 3 highlights
3:56
Jokic’s 32-21-10 triple double leads Nuggets in Game 3 victory
Nikola Jokic scores a 32-point performance with 21 rebounds. He also has 10 assists. The Nuggets are able to hold the Heat at bay and take a two-point lead in the NBA Finals.
Tweet of the night
NBA playoffs’ 30-point, 20, rebound, 10 assist performances (via @Stathead):
Nikola Jokic (33)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Wilt Chamberlain— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 8, 2023
Michael Malone’s Nuggets: Urgency, Desperation, and 17 Video Clips
Denver’s head coach did more than just criticize the team for their loss in Game 2, he also pleaded with them to be honest and act quickly. Brian Windhorst writes that Game 3 showed how the Nuggets responded to this plea.
The chemistry between Murray and Jokic was evident in Game 3
The Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray 2-man game is just as beautiful as it is devastating. Ramona Shelburne writes that they perfected it before they ever played together in Denver.
Heat 111 Nuggets108
Leaders
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Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets scored 41 points
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Nikola Jokic has 11 rebounds for the Nuggets.
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Jamal Murray (Nuggets) — 10 assists
Game 2 highlights| Game 2 highlights
4:14
Heat wins Game 2 with a fourth-quarter dominance
Heat come back from a 15 point deficit to win the second game and even up the series with Nuggets.
Tweet of the night
This Heat group is among the toughest teams I have seen in a while. They keep finding a solution.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) June 5, 2023
Jimmy Butler and The Heat Figured Things Out
Ramona Shelburne explains how Miami played the postseason. From enduring heart-wrenching defeats to playing with injured starters and matching up against opposing stars, they did it all.
Heat have the NBA’s most luxurious option in Game 2.
The Heat have a home court advantage now that they won in Denver on Sunday night. Brian Windhorst writes that they have the opportunity to bring Tyler Herro home whenever they choose.
Nuggets 104 Heat 93
Leaders
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Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets scored 27 points
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Rebounds: Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets/Bam Adebayo, Heat — 13 rebounds
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Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) — 13 assists
Game 1 box score and highlights| Game 1 highlights
2:50
Nuggets win Game 1 with 53 points from Murray and Jokic
Nuggets win the first game 104-93, thanks to Jamal Murray’s 26-point performance and Nikola Jokic’s triple-double.
Tweet of the night
Joker pointing to his hand following the Nuggets Game 1 victory #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/HMu3BkZkE0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 2, 2023
Nikola Jokic completely dominated the Game 1
Ramona Shelburne reports that despite taking only three shots during the first half of the game, the Nuggets were able to dominate the Heat and get everything they wanted.
Heat must break a long-standing trend to defeat the Nuggets
Bam Adebayo was at his All Star and All-Defensive Best against the Nuggets throughout his career. Brian Windhorst writes it’s almost never enough.
NBA Finals 2023
These two possessions say so much about Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets team — a ethos which will be hard for Heat to overcome. Read Zach Lowe’s story »
Nikola Jokic says he didn’t expect to win two MVP Awards, let alone make it to NBA. Denver’s star has figured out what everyone thinks he is trying to hide. Read Ramona Shelburne’s story »
Does the Heat have a counter to Nikola Jokic’s explosiveness? The Nuggets can they contain Jimmy Butler’s scorching shooters in Miami? The 2023 NBA Finals: Here’s what you need to be aware of. Read Zach Lowe’s preview »
Kevin Pelton explains which teams earned the most hardware over the last decade, taking into consideration their performance statistics and the level of competition. Read the complete rankings »
NBA Finals coverage through the years
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Warriors sweep the 2018 World Cup
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Complete 2016 NBA Finals coverage