Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets frankly look unstoppable at this point. They have simply been the best team in these playoffs right from the first, dominating Minnesota in the first round, 4-1. Then they battled and outlasted the Phoenix Suns, winning that series, 4-2. They outright swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
Now, they hold a commanding3-1 series lead against the Heat, having earned it with a second straight win on the road in Miami. All they need is one more win, and they will hoist the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy for the first time in franchise history. Frankly, it does not appear that the Heat are up to stopping them at this point.
Historically, speaking, teams that have gone up 3-1 in an NBA Finals series have won a whopping 97 percent of the time. Only one team, the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, ever managed to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals to win the NBA title.
There was at least one major scare for Denver, as Nikola Jokić seemed to have twisted his ankle early on. But he came back into the game and scored 23 points and got 12 rebounds, helping to lead his team. Denver was able to build a sizable lead early on, and although Miami rallied to get closer and even got within five in the second half, the Nuggets shut them down and closed the door on them when they absolutely had to.
The Nuggets now own a 3-1 series lead, and will return to host the Miami Heat in Denver this Monday. They have a chance to clinch the series and earn their first ever NBA title at home before their fans then. Should be interesting.
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