Monday, led by 28 points from Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 to deliver Mile High City its first NBA championship.
The Nuggets ended a 47-year championship drought by winning the best-of-seven series 4-1 in front of a rambunctious capacity crowd at Ball Arena eager to celebrate.
Jokic, the Serbian big man, once again led the Nuggets with a double-double of 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The eighth-seeded Heat had confounded the odds throughout the playoffs, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Boston Celtics, but Monday’s challenge was nearly insurmountable.
The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals and win the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Adding to the difficulty of the endeavour, Ball Arena has been a virtual sanctuary for the Nuggets during the playoffs, where they are 9-1 at home.
