Top of the Mountain 🏔️

06/13/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Nuggets Hold Off Heat in Game 5 (94-89) to Win 1st NBA Title in Franchise’s 47-Year History; Jokic Wins Finals MVP

Denver does it! Monday night’s Game 5 put an exclamation point on the 2022-23 NBA season as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets claimed the first title in franchise history. Game 5 was tilted toward Miami in the first half, but the Heat struggled to hit shots in the second — just 38 points on 30-percent shooting. Denver grinded through a defensive struggle and held off a gritty Heat team clinging for life. Jimmy Butler scored 13 of his 21 points in the final five minutes, but a costly turnover and a forced 3 in Miami’s last two possessions paved the way for a Denver celebration 47 years in the making.

Tears for Murray. Hugs for head coach Mike Malone. But the big guy? Jokic is just ready to go home.

“The job is done. We can go home now.” — Nikola Jokic

Game 5 Top Performers

N. Jokic (DEN): 28 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists

J. Butler (MIA): 21 points, 5 assists, 3 steals

B. Adebayo (MIA): 20 points, 12 rebounds

J. Murray (DEN): 14 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists

Star Stat: Jokic’s 8th 20-point, 15-rebound game of the playoffs is the most since Tim Duncan (12) in 2003.

Watch: Nuggets Close Out Heat in Game 5 for 1st NBA Championship

Jokic Wins Finals MVP: At 28 years old and fresh off back-to-back regular season MVP awards, Jokic now owns a ring and a Finals MVP. He averaged 30.2 ppg, 14.0 RPG, and 7.2 APG in the Finals, joining an exclusive list of just six other players to average 30-plus in Finals history (Jerry West, Rick Barry, Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Jordan). On top of that, his combined playoff stat line (points+rebounds+assists) was 52.9 per game. That’s the second-highest in a single postseason in NBA history behind only Wilt Chamberlain (59.9 total P+R+A in 1967).

Denver’s Potential Dynasty: The Nuggets’ core gives reason to believe this won’t be their last championship run. As tough as the Western Conference has been, the West’s biggest stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry are aging out of their prime. The Suns likely present the biggest challenge in the West, but we saw what the Nuggets did to Phoenix early in the playoffs. The seven Nuggets players who logged more than five minutes in Game 5 have an average age of 26 years old. Could Denver be a dynasty?

Murray’s Miracle Comeback: The Robin to Jokic’s Batman has often been left behind in star conversations during the early years of his NBA career, but Jamal Murray overcame a brutal knee injury at 24 years old to become a bonafide 1B option on a championship team. Murray was a lottery pick back in 2016 at 19 years old. It’s taken some growing pains, but he’s arrived. He averaged 20-6-4 this season while Jokic posted the gaudy numbers. Murray’s never been an all-star, but that could change soon.

Denver Dominance: Denver’s postseason run was littered with overpowering displays of dominance. After earning the No. 1 seed in the West, the Nuggets went 16-4 in the playoffs by beating the Timberwolves (4-1), Suns (4-2), Lakers (4-0), and Heat (4-1). Only one opponent earned a Game 6, and no one pushed Denver to Game 7. Their .800 win percentage in the postseason is tied for the 11th-best playoff run in NBA history.

That’ll do it for the 2022-23 NBA season. Check back tomorrow for an Underdog feature on the Joker — the Finals MVP who was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial with the 41st pick in 2014.

Respect to the 8-seed Miami Heat for an amazing playoff run. And congratulations to the Denver Nuggets, the 2023 NBA champions!

B/R: Nobody Can Question Nikola Jokic’s Legacy Ever Again

USA Today: Don’t Tire of the Nuggets Yet. Jokic & Co. Built for More Titles

CBS Sports: Denver Nuggets’ Championship Run By the Numbers

Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images