Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the rest of the Denver Nuggets circled around head coach Michael Malone in their pregame locker room Thursday night. Nine days separated the Western Conference champions from Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a game Denver would need to buck an incredible trend in order to win. Miami stole the first game, on the road, in each of the Heat's three series throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. Malone was adamant that the streak would come to an end at Ball Arena.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 01: Caleb Martin #16 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 01, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Jokic found Aaron Gordon most often during the game's opening moments. The Nuggets' size over Miami's rangy wings was one of the matchup storylines league personnel were considering before this championship matchup, and the early action often left Gordon isolated against the smaller Caleb Martin or Heat point guard Gabe Vincent — both easily overpowered by the 6-foot-10 forward
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