Nuggets Chill the Heat: Denver Grabs Victory in NBA Finals Rematch

Denver, CO – Despite Denver residents’ envy of their NBA team’s trip to South Florida, both the Nuggets and the Miami Heat felt the chill in Miami, reminiscent of the snowy weather back home.

In a rematch of the NBA Finals marked by robust defense, an unexpected hero emerged to tip the scales: reserve point guard Reggie Jackson. With a flurry of seven consecutive points in just over a minute, Jackson propelled Denver to a 94-84 lead, securing a 100-88 triumph Wednesday night at Kaseya Center.

Notching their 10th win in 11 games post-All-Star break, the Nuggets (46-20) surged ahead of Oklahoma City, claiming sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with 16 regular-season games remaining.

Michael Porter Jr. led the charge with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, maintaining an impressive average of over 20 points per game since the break. However, it was the bench players who shone when it mattered most. Nikola Jokic could afford to rest until the 6:29 mark of the final quarter, thanks to a stellar performance from the second unit. Aaron Gordon, alongside Justin Holiday supporting Jamal Murray in the backcourt, held the fort admirably.

During this crucial stretch, Christian Braun contributed seven points, including a pivotal corner 3-pointer and a contested floater, igniting celebrations with a “too small” gesture. Peyton Watson’s emphatic dunk prompted an Eric Spoelstra timeout as Denver prepared to reintroduce Jokic and company. Then, it was Jackson’s turn to shine, his rotations synchronized with Jokic’s to avoid unfavorable lineups.

Following Jackson’s three consecutive jumpers, the Nuggets maintained a double-digit lead in the final three minutes, never looking back after trailing 71-67 late in the third quarter.

Denver established an early 15-0 run, forging a 13-point lead that they narrowly held onto throughout the first half, despite Miami’s retaliatory 12-2 surge. The rematch soon descended into another intense battle, akin to their previous encounter, where the Nuggets triumphed 103-97.

Despite promising signs in warm-ups, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s catch-and-shoot 3-pointer, Denver struggled from beyond the arc, shooting a mere 33%. Jimmy Butler was contained to 15 points on 16 attempts, while Bam Adebayo’s nine-point third quarter fueled a brief Heat resurgence, yet he managed only eight points across the remaining three quarters.

In a game where baskets were hard to come by, Porter’s stellar performance stood out, even as he cooled off slightly after a flawless first half from deep. With Jamal Murray requiring 14 shots for his 14 points and Jokic adding 12 points alongside 14 rebounds, both teams grappled with their offensive efficiency, resulting in a gritty defensive showdown.

As the regular season winds down, Denver’s victory serves as a testament to their resilience and depth, positioning them favorably in the Western Conference standings.