The Denver Nuggets secured their first NBA championship by defeating the Miami Heat 94-89 in game five of the NBA finals.
Despite a strong late surge by Miami, the Nuggets managed to maintain their lead and clinch the Larry O'Brien trophy in front of their home crowd.
Nikola Jokic continued his exceptional performance for Denver, leading the team with 28 points, while Jimmy Butler of the Heat contributed 21 points, including a late rally.
The Heat enjoyed a seven-point advantage at halftime due to Denver's early struggles from beyond the arc, missing their first 22 three-point attempts.
However, the Nuggets managed to improve their shooting in the second half and tightened their defense, limiting Miami to only 38 points for the remainder of the game.
A critical sequence occurred when Butler scored eight consecutive points for the Heat, including clutch free throws, giving them a one-point lead with less than two minutes left.
Nevertheless, the Nuggets responded swiftly as Bruce Brown secured an offensive rebound and made a crucial tip-in, preventing Miami from regaining the lead.
Nikola Jokic's outstanding performance throughout the playoffs, leading in points, rebounds, and assists, earned him the Finals MVP award, recognizing his historic postseason achievements.