Nuggets cool Heat in NBA Finals Game 1

De La Salle University escaped with a close win over St. Clare College, 83-74, at the FilOil EcoOil 16th Preseason Cup, Wednesday afternoon in San Juan City.

DENVER — (UPDATED) The Denver Nuggets launched their first NBA Finals campaign in franchise history with a dominant 104-93 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, propelled by yet another Nikola Jokic triple double.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Jokic scored 27 points with 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead the Nuggets, who will try to double their advantage in the best- of-seven series when they host Game 2 on Sunday.

Jamal Murray scored 26 points, handed out 10 assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Nuggets, who led by 24 points in the third quarter and repelled the resilient Heat’s fourth quarter challenge.

“We respect their team a lot,” Jokic said. “We just wanted to get the first punch.

T’was all over but the shouting.

When Denver erected that 22-point bubble at the close of the third, I told myself the Heat would never be able to turn the game around.

Sure enough, the Nuggets drew first blood on their homecourt 104-93 and they are looking forward to nail down a 2-0 lead in Game 2 Sunday of their best of seven NBA Finals against the Heat.

A lopsided win, you can say of the authoritative dominance Jokic and his gang displayed, as Denver rolled over Miami in somewhat easy fashion.

Eric Spoelstra must be dumbfounded.

Why not? Jokic had produced another triple double with regularity: 27 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists.

As every NBA watcher quizzically asked: Where was Jimmy Butler as this dizzying development was happening?

Butler contributed only 13 points. Dam Adebayo tried to do a yeoman’s job defending, socring and rebounding but Jokic with his partner, the shifty Jamal Murray could not be denied. Murray made 18 in the first half and totaled 26 overall.

Already, they are talking of a sweep but it is too early to even think about that.

I think the Heat were befuddled as the Nuggets waxed hot from inside and outside the perimeter.

They established a lead which became the pattern all throughout the 48-minute encounter.

Most coaches would love their players to sustain a comfortable margin. More than this, coach Malone watched his boys patiently increase the bubble to 11, 13, 16 and 22.

Defeat was already certain even as Miami was able to bring the deficit down to 10, 84-94.

Jokic stood his ground, scoring whenever a one-to-one guarding came about.

Again, as the cliche goes, it’s back to the drawing board for Spoelstra.

The EC champions need to revise their offensive plays as well as their defensive patterns.

They did not give Jokic enough headaches with a chaser double teaming him as is usually done versus big men. Thus he was able to get inside the paint, scored on short jumpers or issued a pass when a teammate is left open.

Besides, Butler appeared stymied. Instead of carrying the scoring load and production which ideally should have been the case,

For a player his caliber, Butler should have been always the first option in order to attract and sag out the Nuggets defense.

But he allowed his teammates to take over the chores with Adebayo in the middle of it all.

If Spoelstra wants to steal a win in Game 2, he should go back to Game 7 of the Heat’s victory in Boston over the Celtics.

Did you notice how timid the Heat were? They looked tired and listless on opening day.

Pity. Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, Lowry et al were just a shadow of their old selves.

When will Tyler Herro, the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year, play, by the way? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com).

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!