MIAMI — The mission for the Denver Nuggets was clear: Visit the Sunshine State for a few days, get a couple of wins and head back home to the Mile High City with a chance to finally lock up their first NBA championship.
It’s officially there for the taking.
The 47-year wait for Denver might be over as soon as Monday, with Nikola Jokic and his teammates now just one win away from getting the title the 28-year-old two-time league MVP has wanted for so long. Aaron Gordon scored 27 points, Jokic added 23, and the Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 108-95 on Friday night to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
“We haven’t done a damn thing yet,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We have to win another game to be world champions.”
Bruce Brown scored 21 off the bench for the Nuggets, who won their fifth straight road game to grab complete command of the best-of-seven series. They’ll have three chances to win one game for a title, two of those in Denver, the first in what’s sure to be a raucous atmosphere for Game 5.