The Denver Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals on Wednesday night thanks to a historic performance from their 1-2 punch by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Jokic recorded his second triple-double of the series ending with 33 points 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Murray also had a triple-double with 32 points 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The two All-Stars combined to score 65 points the most by a pair of teammates in a Finals game since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 1980.
The Nuggets also received a big boost from Aaron Gordon who had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Heat was led by Jimmy Butler who had 35 points and 10 rebounds, But Butler didn’t get much help from his teammates as the Heat shot just 40 percent from the field.
The Nuggets now have a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series when they host Game 4 on Friday night.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the Nuggets’ victory:
* Jokic & Murray are the real deal: The two All-Stars have been dominant in the Finals and are showing no signs of slowing down.
*The Nuggets are a deep team: Gordon has been a key contributor off the bench and the Nuggets have also received solid contributions from Monte Morris, Will Barton, and Michael Porter Jr.
*The Heat are in trouble: The Heat have lost two straight games and are now facing elimination, They need a big performance from Butler in Game 4 if they want to extend their season.