Nikola Jokic smashes records as Denver Nuggets take NBA Finals lead

Nikola Jokic has once again left the basketball world in awe as he smashed several NBA Finals records, leading his team to a crucial win.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center on June 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets have taken a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals thanks to a historic performance by big man Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 109-94 in Miami to regain the Finals lead after losing Game 2 at home in Denver.

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It was all tied up at 24-24 after the first quarter, but Jokic and the Nuggets exploded in the second and third quarters to edge ahead.

Jokic finished with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists — a monster stat line that broke all sorts of records.

Nikola Jokic is rewriting the NBA record books. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The two-time MVP had the first ‘30-20-10’ in NBA playoff history. He now has three 30-20-10 playoff games, the most by any player ever.

Two of those stat-stuffing games have come in this season’s playoffs.

30-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist performances in NBA playoff history (via @Stathead):

Nikola Jokic (3)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Wilt Chamberlain

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 8, 2023

So Joker has 3 of the five 30-20-10 playoff games now. Including 2 this year. Seems relevant! pic.twitter.com/76t7YrwxOy

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 8, 2023

Jokic, 28, has also become the first player in NBA history to record at least 10 triple doubles in a single playoff run.

Asked about the historic feat, a bemused Jokic said: “I mean to be honest, not much … I’m just glad we won the game. It was a big one for us because they won in our arena.”

His recordbreaking performance overshadowed that of his teammate Jamal Murray, who starred in a two-man show for the Nuggets.

Point guard Murray finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists — a triple double of his own.

Jamal Murray had himself a game too. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

Jokic and Murray became the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each record 30-plus points and 10-plus assists in a Finals game.

They’re also the first teammates to have a triple-double in the same game in NBA Finals history.

Jokic 32-21-10 and Murray 34-10-10. That’s a two-man game. #NBAFinals

— No Dunks (@NoDunksInc) June 8, 2023

Nuggets Jamal Murray

First player with 3 straight 10-assist games in the #NBAFinals since Magic Johnson in 1991

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 8, 2023

Aaron Gordon had 10 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie Christian Braun flourished with 15 points as Denver coach Michael Malone gave Braun more court time over Michael Porter Jr.

Malone described Jokic and Murray’s output as “by far their greatest performance as a duo in their 7 years together”.

Denver needed monster games from Jokic and Murray, given Miami’s stars Jimmy Butler (28 points) and Bam Adebayo (22 points, 17 rebounds) had solid games of their own.

The Heat kept the game competitive in the fourth quarter but couldn’t repeat their late surges from the opening two games.

The NBA Finals continues with Game 4 in Miami on Sunday at 10.30am AEST.

Originally published as Nikola Jokic smashes records as Denver Nuggets take NBA Finals lead