Nuggets control game three of 2023 NBA Finals

Jamal Murray (YouTube)

The Denver Nuggets as a whole were disappointed with how they played in game two of the NBA Finals–a 111-108 loss to the Miami Heat. Well, on Wednesday in game three of the best out of seven series, the Nuggets regrouped with a 109-94 lead to take a two games to one lead.

After the first quarter was tied at 24, the Nuggets won every quarter thereafter. Denver won 29-24 in the second quarter, 29-20 in the third quarter, and 27-26 in the fourth quarter.

One area of concern for the Nuggets in game two was team defense. That was less of as concern in game three as the Heat only made 37% of their field goal attempts. After leading the Heat in scoring in game two with 23 points, Gabe Vincent of Modesto, California was ice cold in game three, as he made only two of 10 field goal attempts for seven points. Meanwhile, shooting guard Max Strus of Hickory Hills, Illinois only made one of seven field goals for three points.

Only four Nuggets reached double digits in scoring in game three. Point guard Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ontario set a record for most points by a Canadian in a NBA Finals game with 34, and had a triple double as he had 10 assists and 10 rebounds.Meanwhile, center Nikola Jokic of Sombor, Serbia had his 16th career postseason triple double as he had 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists. This was the first time that teammates had 30-point triple doubles in a game during the NBA Finals.

Rookie guard Christian Braun (pronounced Brown) of Burlington, Kansas had an unlikely 15 points off the bench when he has only had 38 total points in 15 NBA playoff games to date. Power forward Aaron Gordon of San Jose, California had 11 points, and 10 rebounds for a double double. Game four is in Miami on Friday.

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