The Heat made their second NBA Finals appearance in the last four seasons and their seventh overall in franchise history. The Heat became the second team in NBA history to make the NBA Finals as an eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs since the postseason expanded in 1984. The Nuggets, who entered the NBA in 1976, played in their first NBA Finals contest.
The Nuggets have a 9-0 home record in tthe postseason this year. The Heat fell in Game 1 for the first time during this year's NBA Playoffs.
Denver had a 10-4 spurt in the early part of the opening frame and they had a 29-20 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Nuggets extended it to a 12-point margin 39-27 at the 8:18 mark of the second quarter. They had a 17-point gap 59-42 by halftime.
Miami scored the first seven points of the second half and cut the lead down to 10 points. The Nuggets climbed it up to a 19-point margin 74-55 with 5:39 remaining in the third. The Heat trailed 84-63 at the end of the third quarter. Miami broke through with 11 unanswered points to begin the final quarter and were down 84-74 at the 9:29 mark. Denver responded and pushed it back up to a 16-point margin 90-74 with 7:16 to go.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with a team-high 26 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Jimmy Butler added 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Gabe Vincent contributed 19 points in the defeat. Kyle Lowry was able to score 11 points and Haywood Highsmith nailed 18 points.
Nikola Jokic picked up a triple-double with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. Jamal Murray piled on a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Porter, Jr. dropped in 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Aaron Gordon poured in 16 points.
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