The Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 in an ugly, frenetic Game Five to win their first NBA championship.
Nikola Jokic, who became the first player in history to lead the league in points, rebounds, and assists (1 in a single postseason, came through for his teammates with 28 points and 16 rebounds on a night when nothing else appeared to work.
The Nuggets missed 20 of their first 22 three-point attempts and seven of their first 13 free-throw attempts because they were unable to overcome the persistent Heat or the closing-night nerves.
Before Jimmy Butler of Miami went off and scored eight straight points to give the Heat a one-point lead with 2:45 remaining, they had a late seven-point advantage.
With 1:58 left, Butler, who finished with 21 points, added two more free throws to help Miami retake the lead. Bruce Brown then scored a tip-in after grabbing an offensive rebound to give the Nuggets a permanent lead. With 15 seconds remaining, Butler jacked up a three-point attempt but missed it by three points. Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each made two free throws to put the game beyond doubt and secure Denver’s championship.
Even if it was ugly, the Nuggets and their supporters could all agree that the aftermath was stunning. At the final horn, pyrotechnics started to fly above Ball Arena. For the first time in the franchise’s 47-year history in the league, Denver will serve as the Larry O’Brien Trophy’s permanent home.