Out of the stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal MurrayHistoric Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, the Denver Nuggets are two wins away from clinching their first championship.
But is the fire completely extinguished in the Miami Heat, or is there still time for the flames to reignite?
Game 2 was the Heat’s seventh double-digit win of the postseason, according to ESPN stats & information.
And while the Heat might be able to pull off a win in Game 4 on Friday night, Stephen A. Smith, host of ESPN’s “First Take” and the “Stephen A. Smith Show,” told ABC13 that he expects the Nuggets to win the series. .
“Well, anyone who watches this series knows that the Denver Nuggets are the superior team. They have a star in Nikola Jokic, who is now the MVP in the world. They have another star in Jamal Murray, who is just a killer and the combination of the two seems too much,” Smith said. , stating that during game three, Jokic and Murray became the first teammates to score 30 triple-doubles.
The historic moment lifted the Nuggets to a 109-94 victory and a 2-1 series lead.
Now, the series continues in Miami. But there may not be much the Heat can do to prevent the Nuggets from putting out the flames.
one of their stars, Tyler HeroHe had a broken hand since the first game of the playoffs. “Since then they’ve had to go on without him,” Smith said.
“They (Miami) are up against a superior team, and the only goal they have is three-point shooting. Against Boston, Boston was winning in every category except three-point shooting, and what three-point shooting saves were the day of Miami.” “But even that pushes it up to three points.”
Tomball native Jimmy Butler also tried to save the day for his struggling Heat teammates, despite the stellar performance that helped get Miami this far in the first place.
“Miami is built on grit and grit, led by Jimmy Butler, who’s obviously not 100%. He’s walking around stumbling around with a rotten ankle that he hasn’t quite recovered from yet. He’s doing the best he can,” Smith said. “You can expect the Miami Heat to scratch and claw. It might win them another game.”
“This can’t happen. It won’t happen again. It starts with myself. I have to lock in at the defensive end. I have to step up and get loose balls. I think if I start playing and he does that, then everyone else has to follow suit,” he said. Butler told ESPN After losing game 3.
However, if you know nothing else about the Finals, Smith says you should keep some of the major names in mind because you’ll likely hear about them again even after this series ends.
“Jokic is a star. You can’t ignore his stardom. Jamal Murray is a star, too. And it looks like Denver is the team of the future. Not that they’re going to be the Golden State Warriors who’ve won four titles in six years, but understand that these stars are 27 and 25 years old anyway.” They have a bunch of other guys under the age of 28. The Denver Nuggets are putting the basketball world on notice,” Smith said.
Before these stars even hit the court, one of TV’s most outspoken personalities syndicated with ABC13 had some solid Friday plans.
“I’m going to rest. I’m going to chill out in Biscayne Bay on yachts, and enjoy a nice lunch,” began Smith, who is the author of “Straight Shooter.”
“And then I’m going to do my podcast, which is called ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show.’ I’m going to do it live, and as soon as I’m done with that, I have to head to the game and get ready to go.”
As always, he’s back in business.
He’ll also be back in action with the Heat and Nuggets who take on Game 4 Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on ABC13.
remaining table:
Game 5 – Monday, June 12, 7:30 p.m., in Denver (ABC)
Game Six – Thursday, June 15, at 7:30 PM, in Miami (ABC) *if necessary
Game 7 – Sunday, June 18 at 7 p.m. in Denver (ABC) *if necessary
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