The Denver Nuggets were the big favorites to win this NBA Finals, and they are showing why.
The Nuggets took a 3-1 series lead on Friday night with their 108-95 win over the Miami Heat.
Denver is now one win away from its first NBA title in franchise history.
The Nuggets led by four at halftime, but opened the third quarter on a 19-10 run to take a 13-point lead, their biggest of the night to that point. Miami was able to cut its deficit to six points, but Denver closed out the third with another 12-5 run, regaining its 13-point lead. They closed the third up 86-73.
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Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets reacts late in the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center on June 9, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
However, the Heat began the fourth quarter in desperate mode and went on an 8-0 run to cut their deficit to five points. That was the closest they got, however, and Denver made another run to ice him out.
With 6:34 to go, Miami trailed by six, but Denver went on a 17-6 run over the next five minutes to lead by 17, now the biggest margin of the night.
Denver’s Aaron Gordon was the game’s leading scorer with 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting and 3-for-4 three. Nikola Jokic had 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Bruce Brown had 21 points, 11 of them in the final 5:07.
As a team, Denver made half of its 3-pointers (14 of 28) – Miami made just 8 of 25 (32.0%).
Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets dunks during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center on June 9, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL WAS SEEN AT DINNER WITH MODEL BRITTANY RENNER AT THE SAME PLACE OF THE WEDDING WITH HIS EX-WIFE
Jimmy Butler (25) and Bam Adebayo (20) combined for 45 of Miami’s 95 points.
The Nuggets would be only the fifth first-time champion of the 21st century, and the first since the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ironically, if the Heat come back to win the series, they’ll be only the second team to the Finals, joining the Cavs team, and the first to do so in any playoff series since the team they’re trying to come back against. He did it twice in 2020.
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Kaseya Center on June 9, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Mike Ehrman/Getty Images)
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Nuggets fans will have a chance to watch their team lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy on their home court Monday night as Game 5 is back in Denver.