Imperious Jokić shines in NBA finals debut as Nuggets take Game 1 from Heat

Nikola Jokić got a triple-double in his NBA finals debut, Jamal Murray scored 26 points and the Denver Nuggets had little trouble with the cold-shooting Miami Heat on the way to a 104-93 win in Game 1 on Thursday night.

Jokić finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who waited 47 years to make the finals and didn’t disappoint. Aaron Gordon added 16 points and Michael Porter Jr scored 14 for Denver, who trailed for all of 34 seconds and eventually led by as many as 24.

Bam Adebayo finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, which shot 41% for the game – 33% from three-point range. Gabe Vincent scored 19, Haywood Highsmith had 18 and Jimmy Butler added 13 for the Heat.

Game 2 is in Denver on Sunday night.

Schedule

Best-of-seven series. All times Eastern. 

Thu 1 Jun Game 1: Nuggets 104, Heat 93 

Sun 4 Jun Game 2: Heat at Nuggets, 8pm (ABC) 

Wed 7 Jun Game 3: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) 

Fri 9 Jun Game 4: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) 

Mon 12 Jun Game 5: Heat at Nuggets, 8.30pm (ABC) * 

Thu 15 Jun Game 6: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) * 

Sun 18 Jun Game 7: Heat at Nuggets, 8pm (ABC) * 

* if necessary

Miami opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run, cutting an 84-63 deficit to start the final period down to 84-74. The Heat actually got within nine on a three-pointer by Highsmith with 2:34 left, but no closer and there wasn’t any doubt, either.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone gave his team a pop quiz in shootaround Thursday morning, peppering them with questions about the game plan and what had to be done in the most important game to date in franchise history.

They had all the answers then. Had them all at game time, too. They were the team with minimal NBA finals experience, only two