The Denver Nuggets are two wins away from winning the NBA championship for the first time in franchise history.
Injury Update for Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat
The red-hot Nuggets are two wins away from their first NBA championship, and their top two players are coming off historic performances.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, recall their Game 2 home loss and know they’ll need to go all out against the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.
Denver leads the best-of-seven series 2-1 and is looking to win back-to-back games in Miami. The Nuggets dominated the second half on route to a 109-94 victory on Wednesday night.
Denver did have historic performances from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to have at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.
It was only the fifth such game in NBA postseason history, with Jokic winning three and Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar winning one apiece.
“I think this is the time where the players show what they’ve got,” Jokic added.
Murray contributes 26 points, 10 assists, and 6.7 rebounds while Jokic averages 33.3 points, 14 rebounds, and 9.3 assists.
Murray led the game with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. It is the first time in NBA history that two players on the same team scored at least 30 points during a triple-double.
Denver also dominated on the inside. The Nuggets outrebounded the Lakers 58-33 and outscored them 60-34 in the paint.
“It was a good win for us,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, “but we didn’t come down here for one win.”
The Heat appear to be losing steam after winning a playoff berth via the play-in round and then defeating the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
In the Eastern Conference finals, Miami led the Boston Celtics 3-0. The Heat have now lost five of their last seven games.
If Miami falls down 3-1, Denver will host two of the final three games of the series. The Nuggets’ Game 2 loss was their first in ten home playoff games this season.
Bam Adebayo, who had 22 points and 17 rebounds, stated that the group had previously faced difficult conditions.
Jimmy Butler scored 28 points. In the series, the Miami star is averaging 20.7 points and shooting 42.1 percent.
“I continue to be who I am,” Butler said of his play in the Finals. “As a group, as a team, we will remain true to ourselves.” We’re going to compete together out here. We’re going to win as a team.”
Meanwhile, reducing the damage caused by Jokic and Murray will be a priority.
Miami guard Tyler Herro will sit out again, according to coach Erik Spoelstra on Thursday. Herro broke his hand in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 16, and he had surgery on April 21.
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Heat injuries:
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Tyler Herro | Hand |
Expected to be out until at least Jun 12
|
| Victor Oladipo | Knee |
Out for the season
|
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Nuggets injuries:
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Collin Gillespie | Lower Leg |
Out for the season
|
