despite the Jokic recital, Miami equalizes against Denver

A health walk for Denver? This is what many observers predicted for these NBA Finals. Nothing will happen. With 23 points from an incandescent Gabe Vincent and 21 units for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Miami won on the boards of the Ball Arena (108-111), on the night of Sunday to Monday, during the second round. Big basketball game. After the Nuggets’ 103-94 victory in Game 1the two clubs are tied (1-1).

Mike Malone’s men seemed to have taken the lead in the first period, however, when they led by 15 points, and again after the break, Nikola Jokic scoring 18 of his 41 points (!) in the third quarter . 11 rebounds and 4 bonus ists for the Serb, with… 5 ball losses. But these Floridians, who returned nearly 50% of their three-point attempts (48.6%), are decidedly unsinkable. 14 points from Max Strus, 10 from Duncan Robinson and 10 rebounds for… Kevin Love, surprise starter. Denver side, 18 points and 10 ists to the credit of Jamal Murray, who had the shot to snatch the extension at the very end of the game, a good shot. Everything has to be redone for the Denver Nuggets before playing the next two meetings in Florida.

Miami starts strong, Denver responds tit for tat

Do you remember the start of game 1? Quite the opposite at the start of Game 2. Aphone last Thursday (0/10 on shots), Strus split 12 points in the first quarter, in order to allow Miami to count up to 11 points ahead (10-21). Exclusive per at the start of Game 1, Jokic kept his team afloat with 11 units in the first 12 minutes. In its wake, Denver found its game Only three points difference at the end of the first quarter (23-26) and soon the first advantage for the Nuggets (27-26). Impenetrable in defense in the racket, they chained four three-point bombs (39-29). Speaking of bomb, Murray stole the ball from the hands of Lowry before going to slam a huge dunk (video below, 42-32). The Ball Arena goes wild. There was enough. Malone’s men increased their lead to +15 (50-35). Despite the clumsiness of Butler and Adebayo, Vincent and company let the storm p and remained alive (52-47, then 57-51 MT).

Halftime had not made Vincent lose his rhythm, always warmer (64-62). Miami was quick to pick up (64-64, then 66-66) in a third quarter less rhythmic, more choppy, but in which the two teams went blow for blow. Big fight. Guided by a brilliant Jokic, however, the Nuggets never lost the reins. Faults caused, stolen balls, rebounds and baskets in spades: in the oven and in the mill, the double MVP walked on Miami (and Zeller) at the end of the third quarter (83-75). Not enough to kill the game. Especially since Robinson, on fire, scored 10 of his team’s first 13 points in the fourth quarter, Vincent going there with his small triple in ping (85-88). The latter scratched two more points on the line, while nervousness won Denver (85-90).

Butler misses the thrust and Murray, the equalizer

Nervousness, and soon fear. That of the void. Because despite Vincent’s exit with four faults, Butler came out of his box (91-98) before three shots from Kyle Lowry (9 pts), who sent Adebayo to the dunk (93-104). Five minutes to play. The Nuggets in artificial respiration! And even more after this award-winning basket from Caleb Martin, the only one of the match (95-107). Aaron Gordon (14 pts) stopped the bleeding, Bruce Brown (11 pts) continued and Murray, who had been discreet for long minutes, scored two huge shots to revive the suspense, in a crazy end to the match (106-109, then 108-111). Butler missed the blow with 14”1 on the clock, no timeout or foul from Miami and Murray, with a warm hand, had plenty of time to rise to equalize at three points at the buzzer… In vain (108- 111 final score).

The two teams will therefore meet overnight from Wednesday to Thursday (2:30 a.m.), at the Kaseya Center, for Game 3. The fourth round will take place two days later (2:30 a.m.), still in Florida. One thing is certain: we will have at least a fifth meeting, on the night of June 12 to 13 (2:30 a.m.), on the Denver side.

2023 NBA Finals schedule and results :
Game 1: denver-Miami 104-93
Game 2: Denver-Miami 108-111 (both teams tied, 1-1)
Match 3: Miami-Denver, on the night of June 7 to 8 (2h30)
Match 4: Miami-Denver, on the night of June 9 to 10 (2h30)
Match 5: Denver-Miami, on the night of June 12 to 13 (2h30)

If necessary
Match 6: Miami-Denver, on the night of June 15 to 16 (2h30)
Match 7: Denver-Miami, on the night of June 18 to 19 (2 hours)