3-0: NBA Knockout Punches

05/22/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Heat & Nuggets on Finals Collision Course, Take 3-0 Series Leads in Conference Finals

What could’ve been a potential Lakers-Celtics clash in the NBA Finals — the two winningest franchises in NBA history — is now over. The Nuggets and Heat delivered the potential knockout punches in Game 3s this weekend, and now L.A. and Boston are laying on the canvas struggling to get up. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Miami continued to shed the 8-seed underdog label with Sunday’s blowout. In lieu of Jimmy Butler’s best (just 16 points), Gabe Vincent popped off for 29 (6-for-9, 3pt). Boston’s star duo of Jaylen Brown (12) and Jayson Tatum (14) shot just 1-for-14 combined from deep. On Saturday, Jamal Murray (37) took the reigns in L.A. as the Nuggets pulled away in the 4th quarter. Each series is 3-0 with closeout Game 4s tonight and tomorrow.

Unheralded Heat Playmakers: Miami’s trio of Gabe Vincent (29), Duncan Robinson (22), and Max Strus (10) are the first trio of undrafted teammates to score 10-plus in a half since 1966. Vincent had more than Tatum and Brown combined. Keep in mind, Miami is missing Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo.

Conference Finals Highlights

Gm 3: Nuggets def. Lakers (119-108) | DEN Leads (3-0)

Gm 3: Heat def. Celtics (128-102) | MIA Leads (3-0)

Top Game 3 Performers

J. Murray (DEN): 37 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists

G. Vincent (MIA): 29 points (6-for-9, 3pt)

A. Davis (LAL): 28 points, 18 rebounds

N. Jokic (DEN): 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists

L. James (LAL): 23 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 4: Nuggets at Lakers (8:30 pm ET)

ESPN: Lakers Outshined by Nuggets Again in Clutch Time, Face 3-0 Deficit

Photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images