Sports
NBA Finals 2023: Schedule, news, highlights, scores, more – ESPN
The Denver Nuggets are the 2023 NBA champions.
Nikola Jokic put together a prolific performance to lead Denver to its first NBA title in franchise history, beating the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 to take the series 4-1. Jokic, the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP, had a double-double in the win, tallying 28 points and 16 rebounds.
The Heat were on the cusp of completing one of the most improbable championship runs in league history, but the No. 8 seed failed to win on the road. Jimmy Butler had 21 points, but went 5-for-18 from the field.
All four rounds of the NBA playoffs were a best-of-seven format, as has been the case since 2003. The NBA does not reseed after each round, so the bracket was set at the start of the tournament.
The top six teams in each conference automatically qualified for the playoffs, while the teams that finished the regular season in seventh through 10th places advanced to the NBA’s play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff teams in each conference.
Revisit the five-game series between the Nuggets and the Heat here.
RECAPS: Conf. finals | Conf. semis | First round | Play-in
Game 1: Nuggets 104, Heat 93
Game 2: Heat 111, Nuggets 108
Game 3: Nuggets 109, Heat 94
Game 4: Nuggets 108, Heat 95
Game 5: Nuggets 94, Heat 89
How the Nuggets created, cultivated the NBA’s most dynamic duo
Lowe: Inside the seven-year journey to construct the 2023 NBA champion
Tales of Nikola Jokic’s journey to a title
A one-finger salute and the deep ties that bond Butler and the Heat
Shelburne: How Gordon’s fit falls in Nuggets’ offensive hierarchy
Windhorst: Will Heat go star-searching soon?
Nuggets just one win away after Game 4 win
Jokic, Murray post triple-doubles in Game 3 win
Butler critical of Heat’s low energy in Game 3
Shelburne: Jokic and Murray ‘like the old-school Spurs’
Hockensmith: The year Jimmy Buckets was born
5-on-5: Our insiders dissect the biggest Finals questions
Lewis won’t referee NBA Finals amid investigation
Youngmisuk: An invisible advantage is fueling the Nuggets’ Finals run
Spoelstra, Heat bow out with ‘no regrets on our end’
Nuggets finish Heat in 5 games to win first NBA championship
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic named NBA Finals MVP
Nuggets +475 betting favorites to repeat as NBA champs
Sources: Heat’s Tyler Herro to attempt return for Game 5
Leaders
Points: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 28
Rebounds: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 16
Assists: Jamal Murray, Nuggets — 8
Game 5 box score | Game 5 highlights
Tweet of the night
Denver had to earn that championship
Nothing easy tonight was given to them
Lowe: Inside the seven-year journey to construct the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets
From legendary draft picks to devastating injuries, the Nuggets spent the better part of a decade building for this — their first title in franchise history. And they might just be getting started, writes Zach Lowe.
How the Nuggets created, cultivated the NBA’s most dynamic duo
The roots of this Denver title run extend far beyond the 2014 NBA draft. This is the story of how the Nuggets identified their star pair — and the fortitude it took to believe in them, Ramona Shelburne writes.
Tales of Nikola Jokic’s journey to a title
Eight stories, eight writers. We reveal the most important moments of Nikola Jokic’s Hall-of-Fame career, as the Nuggets celebrate the 2023 NBA title. Read here.
Down 3-1, Heat have one goal: ‘Get this thing back to Miami’
Nuggets win Game 4 in Miami, put Heat on the brink
Leaders
Points: Aaron Gordon, Nuggets — 27 points
Rebounds: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 12 rebounds
Assists: Jamal Murray, Nuggets — 12 assists
Game 4 box score | Game 4 highlights
Tweet of the night
Miami’s had an incredible run in these playoffs. Denver’s just better.
How Aaron Gordon turned into a perfect fit alongside Denver’s offensive hierarchy
Not even the Nuggets’ front office knew they would get a key championship contributor when they traded for the ex-Magic forward in 2021, writes Ramona Shelburne.
Why Miami’s Game 4 loss all but ensures Heat will be star-searching soon
Down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, Friday’s loss in Miami guarantees this: The Heat will be major players this offseason, writes Brian Windhorst.
Jokic and Murray’s chemistry on full display in G3
How Michael Malone keeps motivating the Nuggets
Heat’s Tyler Herro still not cleared for the Finals
Leaders
Points: Jamal Murray, Nuggets — 34 points
Rebounds: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 21 rebounds
Assists: Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Nuggets — 10 assists
Game 3 box score | Game 3 highlights
Tweet of the night
30-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist performances in NBA playoff history (via @Stathead):
Nikola Jokic (3)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Wilt Chamberlain
Urgency, desperation and 17 video clips: How Michael Malone keeps motivating the Nuggets
Denver’s coach didn’t just call out his team following their Game 2 loss, he offered honesty and begged for urgency. And Game 3 highlighted how the Nuggets embraced every bit of that plea, writes Brian Windhorst.
Jokic and Murray’s chemistry was on full display in Game 3
The Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray two-man game is as devastating as it is beautiful. And it’s because they started perfecting it long before they ever teamed up in Denver, writes Ramona Shelburne.
Heat rains 3s in Denver, storm back to tie Finals
Malone urges discipline, playing fast ahead of G3
Heat’s Herro out for Game 2 as rehab continues
Leaders
Points: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 41 points
Rebounds: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 11 rebounds
Assists: Jamal Murray, Nuggets — 10 assists
Game 2 box score | Game 2 highlights
Tweet of the night
This Heat group is one of the most mentally tough teams I’ve seen in a long time. They just keep finding a way.
How Jimmy Butler and the Heat figured things out
From weathering gut-wrenching losses to playing without injured starters to matching up with opposing superstars, this is what Miami has done all postseason, writes Ramona Shelburne.
Game 2 provides the Heat with the NBA’s biggest luxury: options
With a victory Sunday night in Denver, the Heat now have more than home-court advantage. They have an opportunity to bring Tyler Herro back when they want, writes Brian Windhorst.
Why Jokic pointed at his hand after Game 1
Sources: Herro testing hand; Game 2 is possibility
Butler urges Heat to attack after record-low 2 FTs
Jokic’s triple-double powers Nuggets to Game 1 win
Leaders
Points: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 27 points
Rebounds: Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets/Bam Adebayo, Heat — 13 rebounds
Assists: Nikola Jokic, Nuggets — 13 assists
Game 1 box score | Game 1 highlights
Tweet of the night
Joker pointed to his hand after the Nuggets’ Game 1 win in the #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/HMu3BkZkE0
Nikola Jokic was in total control of Game 1
The two-time MVP took only three shots in the first half, but was still dominant, helping the Nuggets get whatever they wanted against the Heat, writes Ramona Shelburne.
The yearslong trend the Heat will have to break to beat the Nuggets
Bam Adebayo has been at his All-Star and All-Defensive best against the Nuggets over his career. It has almost never been enough, writes Brian Windhorst.
These two possessions reveal so much about Nikola Jokic and Nuggets — an ethos that will be backbreaking for the Heat to counter. Read Zach Lowe’s story »
Nikola Jokic will say he never expected to make it to the NBA, much less win two MVP awards. People assume he’s just being modest, but then … Denver’s star figured it all out. Read Ramona Shelburne’s story »
Do the Heat have any kind of counter for Nikola Jokic? Can the Nuggets merely contain Jimmy Butler and Miami’s red-hot shooters? Here’s everything you need to know for the 2023 NBA Finals. Read Zach Lowe’s preview »
Kevin Pelton breaks down which teams have earned their championship hardware the most over the last few decades, factoring in statistical performance and level of competition. Read the complete rankings »
2022: Warriors champions once again
Stephen Curry & Co. returned to the top of the mountain, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games to claim their fourth championship in the past seven seasons.
Complete 2022 NBA Finals coverage
2021: Giannis, Bucks conquer the Suns
Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s epic Game 6 performance ended the Milwaukee Bucks‘ 50-year title drought, giving them their second NBA championship with a win over the Phoenix Suns.
Complete 2021 NBA Finals coverage
2020: LeBron, Lakers claim bubble title
The Los Angeles Lakers conquered the NBA’s Orlando bubble, defeating the Miami Heat in six games for the 17th championship in franchise history.
Complete 2020 NBA Finals coverage
2019: Kawhi becomes King in the North
For the first time in NBA history, a team outside the United States won the championship, as the Toronto Raptors knocked off the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Complete 2019 NBA Finals coverage
2018: How sweep it is for Warriors
The Golden State Warriors capped off a second consecutive title run by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
Complete 2018 NBA Finals coverage
2017: Durant puts Warriors back on top
The Golden State Warriors were nearly perfect in 2017, going 16-1 in the playoffs en route to winning the NBA championship.
Complete 2017 NBA Finals coverage
2016: ‘Cleveland, this is for you!’
LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended Cleveland’s 52-year title drought by becoming the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
Complete 2016 NBA Finals coverage
