Gabe Vincent recorded a team-high 23 points for the Heat, while Bam Adebayo (21 points, 9 rebounds) and Jimmy Butler (21 points, 9 assists) added a combined 42 points in the victory. Nikola Jokic led all scorers with 41 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets. This best-of-seven series is now tied, 1-1, with Game 3 taking place on Wednesday, June 7 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Nikola Jokic is the 1st Center in NBA history to record 500+ points and 100+ assists in a single postseason.
Nikola Jokic is the 6th Center in NBA history to record 500+ points in a single postseason, joining:
Shaquille O’Neal (1995, 2000, 2002)
Hakeem Olajuwon (1994, 1995)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1974, 1984)
Patrick Ewing (1994)
Moses Malone (1981)
Nikola Jokic is now the 6th player in NBA history to record 25+ points and 10+ rebounds in their first two career Finals games, joining:
Tim Duncan (1999)
Shaquille O’Neal (1995)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971)
Willis Reed (1970)
Hal Greer (1967)
Gabe Vincent, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo are the first Heat trio to each record 20+ points in a Finals game since:
Ray Allen, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade on 06/16/2023
Nikola Jokic’s 68 points through his first two games are tied for the 3rd most points through a players first two career Finals game in NBA history:
Allen Iverson (2001): 71 points
Michael Jordan (1991): 69 points
Kevin Durant (2017): 68 points
Nikola Jokic (2023): 68 points
a a
June 4, 2023 at 10:49 pm
You can take the points the heat will take the W 😂😂😂😂
Botong Jiang
June 4, 2023 at 10:49 pm
the heat team is an army
Judy Clarkson
June 4, 2023 at 10:50 pm
Regardless, I think my theory about Jokic is a bit right. Just ‘let’ him score. If you wanna double him then don’t really commit to that double. You gotta go near at him while also anticipating the pass (easier said than done I know). But the point Im trying to make is that he’s more impactful when he’s hitting those assists and key passes than when he’s scoring loads of points but you successfully limiting those key passes opportunities for him.
Casuals meanwhile will worship his loads of points never realizing that it’s probably Heat’s approach to kinda more focused on limiting his passing game and closing the others chances to develop, while letting him try to score as much to carry the team’s scoring loads. That’s always what’s been done by a good team in order to win. While ironically fanboys love to glorifying those huge scoring gms by certain players sometimes to the extent that they think that player should win FMVP as a loser (we all know who that is) 😂😂
Joe
June 4, 2023 at 11:02 pm
This is true to an extent, but how can you blame a player who played his very well that game but certain other teammates couldn’t.
jack mayor
June 4, 2023 at 11:26 pm
It was effective tactic by the heat but it’s a great fault of his teammates, not Jokic. They should be able to still hit shots when they’re not completely wide open.
RedEye XXX
June 4, 2023 at 11:29 pm
Are you high? What is Jokic supposed to do then? Because Murray and Gordon were locked down and he gave shit loads of pass to KCP which he missed.
So he had to score himself.
Joey Boombatz
June 4, 2023 at 10:52 pm
41 points ain’t enough to beat the 305
Dade county let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOO!
El cuh
June 4, 2023 at 11:18 pm
Denver in 5 sadly
The Gamer 91
June 4, 2023 at 10:54 pm
He got the L too.
Alex C
June 4, 2023 at 10:54 pm
The refs control the games. They’ve been caught in the past and there’s way to much speculation out there for it to not be true. The 50/50 calls all went to Miaimi, there was multiple missed calls like Jimmy being out and them getting the 3 out of it, as well an as obvious goaltend they didn’t call. Heat were getting to The line for the slightest touch but the same contact wouldn’t get called for Denver. The Heat, Gabe Vincent in particular, was flopping like crazy and it makes the league look bad. It only takes a few extra possessions and a few missed calls to change the outcome of the game. This shit was very obviously favoring one team over the other.
Judy Clarkson
June 4, 2023 at 11:00 pm
It’s kinda amazing how y’all managed to overcome those refs with Lebron in the previous series. My team GS never managed to do that. Y’all will win this championship I think. Unless the Heat can keep Joker to not really impacting the game with his passings. If that happens and Heat has really found a key to that, man Denver might need some inspirations from Jamal to acquire those iso baskets to help carry the team’s scoring loads.
Mario
June 4, 2023 at 11:10 pm
The referees are a disgrace. I started to enjoy the NBA again because of the beautifull basketball Denver plays, but then they need to rig the game by helping Miami to make more money by having more games. So many balls that went out by last touch Miami all given to them. The goaltending was even more crazy, how can they get away with it? Versus the Lakers game is was the same story. Le Flop flopping, and the referee following the script. We see the same pattern in this final again.
truthinyourface
June 4, 2023 at 10:54 pm
Relax guys it is 1-1 more to play. Denver lost game not series
The Wok
June 4, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Letting Jokic score cause nobody can guard him, so they focused locking his teammates, Good job Miami 🔥🔥
RedEye XXX
June 4, 2023 at 11:22 pm
Yup. They completely limited his assists. The complete didn’t let Jokic pass ball to Murray or Gordon. Only KCP was left open and he was flipping bad.
The Wok
June 4, 2023 at 11:35 pm
@RedEye XXX yea they got punished hard when they double teamed jokic in game 1
Juanjo
June 4, 2023 at 10:59 pm
Nuggets were ABSOLUTELY PERFECT and Jokic TOTALLY UNSTOPPABLE (41 POINTS) during the first 3 quarters. But everything ruined in the last one. And it was not because their mistake. After these playoffs the 4th quarter should be renamed as the “HEAT” quarter!
Life's Entertainment Channel
June 4, 2023 at 11:04 pm
Miracle happens everyday lets go heat.🎉
d d
June 4, 2023 at 11:08 pm
All Nuggets players are average or below average, most of them have never played significant roles in their previous teams, only Jokic makes them better by at least 30-40%…However, tonight Jokic was the only one who appeared in the game…I also think that it’s clear why Jokic is the only all-star player in Denver..even when he literally destroys Miami himself, none of his teammates play properly
en b
June 4, 2023 at 11:10 pm
Best C since Shaq, not even close
tropickman
June 4, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Mike Malone should be ashamed for sitting Jokic out in beginning of 4th quarter. What a pathetic, lazy & predictable move.
Despite this, Heat would not have won without refs.
Refs stole 2 points from Nuggets as they never called goaltending.
That and1 for Butler, when Gordon never touched him was criminal. There is 3 points rights there.
Joel Alston
June 4, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Jokic doesn’t have any help, that’s why they lost game.
Unknown Z
June 4, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Still lost haha 🥳🤣
Memes
June 4, 2023 at 11:15 pm
W JOKIC. MVP even if heat win
Warren Thomas
June 4, 2023 at 11:19 pm
Nuggets played right into the Miaami Heats’ hands, took away Jokic greatest strength passing, and assisting. The zone messed up everything. Nuggets were not prepared for it.
Madaragun
June 4, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Honestly if Jokic is not a 99 overall for the next 2k game then I don’t know what else you need to do to get it
Micke De Leon
June 4, 2023 at 11:25 pm
Suddenly The Heat snatched the unbeaten record of The Nuggets in Denver before playing the next 2 Games in Miami with the expectation of winning them and Taking a 3-1 Lead in the 2023 NBA Finals … Go Heat !!!
Basil Carpenter jr
June 4, 2023 at 11:38 pm
Not going happen nuggets will get 1 game at heat
Filip S
June 4, 2023 at 11:31 pm
MPJ buddy how about you sit out the next one? Thanks!
Jack Jack
June 4, 2023 at 11:34 pm
Denver is going to make a brake in Miami!
VtectX
June 4, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Just like when he scored 53 points vs Suns but still lost bro 😞
petpara
June 4, 2023 at 11:51 pm
Jokic 😅😅
tayski
June 4, 2023 at 11:53 pm
Why is the NBA still actively supporting anti-white racism that is being directed at Jokic and white people in general? Why have your racist anti-white players not been fired or even punished yet? Does the NBA support this?
White people should stop watching, it’s embarrassing.
Burevestnik
June 5, 2023 at 12:01 am
Stupid f. Malone. Confuses players. Give the ball to f. Jokic. Halo f Malone, where are the plays?? Why Junior plays neglected all the time? Every f shooter needs a boost in his confidence before he starts shooting. In any other team in the league Junior would score 30+ every single f. night. Go away Malone. Go sell watermelons at bazaar. This is higher mathematics for you. Same all patterns in game 2?? Seriously?? Your number 1 task, f Malone is to relax Junior, to get him going at any f cost. Get him immediately score 15. Make series of screens for Junior. Create the f front line for Junior to make a free shot. Every single time these f slow fat arses move their arses like dead rats, looking in awe colibri like switching left right fron back, especially untalented Gordon. F Malone does not even know what are the chief capabilities of his role players, what they must and what they must not ever try to do. Good bye title f Malone. Do us favor: get lost, give Poppey to lead the rest of the losing series.
This is the way how to win the f Denver: get Jokic less than 4 assists. Doesn’t matter if he scores 100, just don’t let him more than 3-4 assists. You heard me Malone.
Konstantinos Pappas
June 5, 2023 at 5:56 am
i don’t think miami have a chance against nikola jokic
GM33
June 5, 2023 at 6:00 am
F machine 😮
Ivan Stanisavljevic
June 5, 2023 at 6:27 am
Next time when you mention how Embid should be the MVP because he averages much more point than Jokic, remember that this guy can average 40 if he wants to, but he is smart enough to know that the Nuggets are doing the best when he gets 20-30 points triple double.
edavila007
June 5, 2023 at 1:24 pm
The anti-Carlemo.
REALLYBRUH
June 5, 2023 at 2:22 pm
Bruh Embiid drops 40 and gives you excellent defense, r u insecure jokic always loses high scoring games cause he can’t get stops he a whole cone in the paint
Ivan Stanisavljevic
June 5, 2023 at 3:20 pm
@REALLYBRUH Lmao, and he is good in the paint when he scores a triple double? Nuggets are not losing these games. You’re a little bit slow it seems
REALLYBRUH
June 5, 2023 at 3:55 pm
@Ivan Stanisavljevic yea cuz him scoring is alot more taxing on the body than passing he gets tired on D
Martin
June 5, 2023 at 9:21 pm
@REALLYBRUH dude what are you watching? your boy Embiid is not on the same level of this guy, Jokic is in a tier of his own.
Chosen
June 5, 2023 at 6:57 am
Murray been ball hogging this game it was annoying
I Love Jesus Christ and Dogs!
June 5, 2023 at 7:01 am
I’m a realistic Nuggets fan since 1974. The Nuggets did not deserve to win game 2. We will see what the Nuggets are sincerely made of the next 2 games in Miami. May the best team win the NBA championship.
Khalid Moosa
June 5, 2023 at 7:21 am
Winning a championship is a team objective and not an individual deal . Having said that the Joker is in the Elite league of all time greatest legends of the NBA
M G
June 5, 2023 at 7:43 am
Jokic should leave the Nuggets. They’re all mediocre at best except AG and Brown. Murray ain’t no superstar like Booker, even Jalen Bronson is better than him. What a waste of talent.
Milos Zivkovic
June 5, 2023 at 8:26 am
fast game pace is win win for heat, denver lacks good defense
KIDPRODUCTION
June 5, 2023 at 9:12 am
Murray could’ve let this guy take the last shot this game?
Spartakus
June 5, 2023 at 9:52 am
JOKIC KING 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
Paul Apana
June 5, 2023 at 10:42 am
His ability to control different offensive aspects of the game is already at its legendary tier.
🃏
Rhinohawk70
June 5, 2023 at 11:31 am
Clear travel on that first basket. This guy gets away with so many non calls. Travels, carries the ball. Pushes off. He should literally foul out every game.
inohope
June 5, 2023 at 7:15 pm
Clear travel!? wtf are you talking about, that was as legit as it can be. Talk about Butler traveling every time he touches the ball
Marinko Marinko
June 5, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Vincent is fouling Jokic every time but refs are silent.
Ruggedland
June 5, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Whenever Jokic scores a ton, it means the rest of the team was struggling so he has to take matter into his own hands. More often than not it means a L for the team. Not really a good thing
Henri Olama - Arte e Note
June 5, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Ha perso
dragan zivkovic
June 5, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Jokic was asked, what was the reason for the defeat against Miami? He said I don’t know.. He knows what everyone saw. Teammates have to play, move, and use assists. They hit the shots.. Watch the clip. Jokic gets the ball and scores. Jokic assists, teammate misses?? That’s the reason for the defeat.. Jokic 41 points. Teammates??
bokiboki
June 5, 2023 at 3:29 pm
MVP
jimmyswaggcorn
June 5, 2023 at 3:57 pm
If miami stops every nugget they will win with the help of the refs
COCOGROCOSHOW
June 5, 2023 at 4:22 pm
It’s not about what Jokic does or Miami . This game was all what coach Malone DIDN”T DO . He did NOT challenge obvious goal tending on Murray’s shot , he did NOT take TO 14 sec. to the end . I never see so much confusion in any team before how much we so last night from Denver . Denver needs better coach then this . What’s going on with MPJ ??? I can score 3 times from 20 attempts .
Zemun In
June 5, 2023 at 5:09 pm
NIKOLA JOKIĆ! 🇷🇸
KAKAV TALENAT! IGRAČ I TRENER!
K Kao
June 5, 2023 at 8:26 pm
when you see the center from opposing team running coast to coast, then score on your team out numbered 1v4, you know you are in deep trouble. MIA may have won game 2 battle, but the war was already over before it even begun.
Djoga100
June 5, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Jokic shouldn’t pass to anyone at all and just score 70pts, maybe that would be enough lol
Martin
June 5, 2023 at 9:19 pm
I have an advice for Jamal Murray vs the zone, just give Jokic the god damn ball.
Milutin Pejic
June 5, 2023 at 10:13 pm
Serbia .
It’s Hasan
June 5, 2023 at 10:31 pm
2018 Lebron