NBA Finals: Nikola Jokic’s historic triple-double helps Nuggets take series lead

Nikola Jokic goes on to show why he could and perhaps should have won his third straight MVP award.

The Joker scored the first 30-20-10 try in NBA Finals history. Denver Nuggets109-94 win over Miami Heat on Wednesday.

The win saw Denver lead two games to one in the NBA Finals as the franchise battles for its first championship in its history.

Neither team had more than a five-point lead in the first half, but Denver opened the third quarter 6-0 for the first double-digit lead of the night, and they made sure it didn’t shrink.

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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) bats against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) in the first half of Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kasei Center. (Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)

In that quarter, they were able to extend their lead to 19 points, and in the fourth to 21. Miami delayed by reducing their deficit to nine, but it was too late.

Jokic’s historic night ended with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.

Jamal Murray also had a triple-double – he led all scorers with 34 points, with 10 rebounds (his 10th with five seconds left) and 10 assists.

Jokic and Murray are the first teammates in NBA history to score 30 triple-doubles in the same game, including in the regular season.

No. 27 Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets hits the basket against No. 13 Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat in the second quarter of Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center on June 7, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Only two Heat players were in double figures. Jimmy Butler finished with 28 points and Bam Adebayo added 22 points and 17 boards. The rest of the teams scored only 44 points in total.

As a team, Denver threw 51.2% from the floor. Miami hit just 37.0% of his shots.

4 game Friday night in Miami.

#15 Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets looks to make it to the first half against the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center on June 7, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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With the loss, Miami would then attempt to become the first team since the 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers to win the Finals after losing 3–1 in the series.