That tongue-lashing stemmed from Denver squandering an easy scoring opportunity by firing up a 3-pointer during a 4-on-3 situation when “we could just get an easy layup or score the ball,” Jokic said. During one third-quarter timeout, an animated Jokic could be seen on the bench lighting into teammates. That didn’t stop Jokic from dialing up the physicality in bullying his way into the paint for a turnaround jumper to set the tone on the Nuggets’ first possession to start the second half.īut even after three quarters, the home team trailed 71-70 as Jokic started to pick up enough steam to steal the show when Denver most needed him to. Denver’s 10 first-half fouls tied for the most it had committed in a half in these playoffs. By halftime, Jokic and Jamal Murray carried two fouls apiece, while Aaron Gordon sat on three fouls. 9, and it shot 1-for-15 from 3-point range over the first two quarters, good for the worst shooting half in Finals history for a team taking a minimum of 10 3-pointers.
The 10 turnovers marked the most Denver had committed in a first half since Feb.
Overall, Miami spun Denver’s 10 first-half giveaways into eight points and a 51-44 halftime lead. Even though the center scored a team-high tying nine points on 4-of-6 shooting over the first two quarters, he committed a team-high tying three turnovers.
Officials whistled Jokic for two fouls in the opening quarter and the center headed to the bench with 2:51 remaining as Miami quickly outscored the Nuggets 15-9 during his time off the floor. NBA commissioner Adam Silver presents Nikola Jokic with the Bill Russell Finals MVP award. It’s great to be a part of such a historically great player who’s an even better person. Just for all of us to stay the course, to challenge ourselves, to all get better collectively, individually. “He’s never changed with all the success, and he never will. “I’ve said this many times before, but Nikola, even tonight, he’s kind of acting like this was just another game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. Jokic is also the first center to win Finals MVP since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002, after churning out the most triple-doubles in one postseason run (10). Jokic ranks as the lowest draft pick (41st) ever to win Finals MVP, and he’s the first player selected outside of the top 15 to win both Finals MVP and regular-season MVP. Not a bad consolation prize for a back-to-back Kia MVP that finished as runner-up to Joel Embiid for the award in his 2022-23 bid for a three-peat. Jokic snatched all 11 votes from the media panel selecting the winner of the Bill Russell Trophy. The other names in that group? Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Bob Pettit. The first player in NBA history to lead the entire postseason in total points (600), total rebounds (269) and total assists (186), Jokic also becomes just the 11th player to take home multiple MVPs and an NBA title. The 28-year-old now ranks as one of five foreign-born players to capture Finals MVP, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Hakeem Olajuwon. Jokic carried the Nuggets during the tensest moments of an outright rock fight, pouring in 10 points in the fourth quarter on 5-of-6 shooting, finishing with a game-high 28 points and 16 boards to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award. Finals MVP Nikola Jokic closes out Miami with 28 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists to help the Nuggets win the franchise's 1st NBA title.
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