Nuggets win first NBA title in franchise history, close out Heat in Game 5

The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title in franchise history after outdueling the Miami Heat, 94-89, in Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Nikola Jokic, who entered the game averaging 30.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists over the first four games of the finals, led the way again with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists in the closeout game.

Michael Porter Jr. added 16 points and 13 rebounds while Jamal Murray chipped in with 14 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.

The teams went back and forth in the opening period, which ended with Miami on top, 24-22, thanks to a late basket from Bam Adebayo.

In the second quarter, the Heat opened up a little bit of a lead, 51-42, thanks again to Adebayo, who scored on back-to-back buckets that made it a nine-point game. But the Nuggets countered with a dunk from Porter Jr. to end the half down by just seven, 51-44.

Denver made its move in the third, though, erasing a 60-53 Miami lead with a 7-0 run thanks to Aaron Gordon, Jokic, and Murray, who capped it with a three-pointer that tied the game at 60. Another triple from Porter Jr. put the Nuggets ahead, 69-66, before Kyle Lowry connected on a long bomb that gave the advantage back to the Heat, 71-70, at the end of the quarter.

The Nuggets surged ahead in the fourth thanks to Jokic and Murray, who led them to an 83-76 lead with 4:43 remaining. But Miami star Jimmy Butler took over at that point, scoring the next 13 of the Heat’s points as they reclaimed an 89-88 lead in the last two minutes.

But Denver made the big plays they needed from Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as they took a 92-89 advantage with 24.7 seconds left in the game. The Nuggets then got a stop and Brown hit two more free throws to all but clinch the game.

Caldwell-Pope and Brown contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Butler, who entered the fourth period with just eight points, finished with team-highs of 21 points and five assists for the Heat. Adebayo posted 20 points and 12 boards.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News