The Denver Nuggets did just what they needed to do.
They took that blow to the chin after dropping Game 2 in the final 12 minutes of that contest, and it didn’t take long before they regrouped and bounced back with a big win of their own.
Mike Malone’s side arrived in South Beach with the sole purpose of getting home-court advantage and the series lead right back, and that’s exactly what they did in Game 3.
Now, they have history on their side and are in a privileged position, as 80% of the teams that win Game 3 when the series is 1-1 have gone on to win their series.
History is on the Nuggets' side after winning Game 3 👀 #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/HFRjAHclFF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 8, 2023
Of course, stats are just reference and trends are only an indication of what may or may not happen, but you have to feel great about your chances if you’re a Nuggets fan after watching them play like they played yesterday.
So much for the “Heat have to make Joker a scorer and not a passer” narrative, and even with Michael Porter Jr. scoring just seven points, Malone’s side was able to make a statement on the road and prove why they were so heavily favored to get the job done.
They still need to win a couple of more games, and the Heat have proven to be a resilient team that’ll never go down without a fight.
But with Jokic and Jamal Murray playing this way, there’s not much Miami — or any other team, by that means — can do to stop them.
NEXT: Nikola Jokic Has A 2-Word Answer On What It Meant To Make Finals History
