(CNN) — The Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 109-94 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals to go 2-1 in the series.
Both teams came out trading baskets. Nuggets star Nikola Jokic nearly had a triple-double in the first quarter, scoring 10 points and adding seven rebounds and three assists.
With the score tied early in the second quarter, the Heat’s Caleb Martin perked up and hit eight straight points, including two 3-pointers, to give Miami the lead. However, Nuggets player Jamal Murray continued his strong first half, scoring 20 points and dishing out four assists to give Denver a 53-48 lead going into halftime.
The second half was all for the Nuggets, as they pushed the lead to 16 points at one point. Christian Braun, a first-round pick by the Nuggets in 2022, has given Denver a boost off the bench, scoring 15 points on 7-8 shooting.
The Nuggets’ second-half streak ended the energy at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
With less than a minute left in the game and the score out of reach, 20-year NBA veteran Udonis Haslem entered the game for Miami, becoming the oldest player to play in an NBA Finals game, at the age of 42 years old.
Jokic, a two-time MVP, finished the game with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to record a 30-20-10 triple-double. It was also Jokic’s third 30-20-10 triple-double of the postseason.
Murray also had a triple double, with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Heat forward Jimmy Butler had 28 points and teammate Bam Adebayo added 22 points and 17 rebounds.
The fourth game is scheduled for this Friday in Miami.
