The Denver Nuggets soared to victory in the 2023 NBA Finals with a stellar sweep against a stubborn Miami Heat, ending the series on Game 5 with an impressive 4 – 1 streak.
WATCH: Reactions to Denver Nuggets winning the 2023 NBA Finals
It was an intense encounter at the Ball Arena, where Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and the Heat crew came with every intention to force Game 6 in the series.
However, Nikola Jokic, who was since crowned the 2023 NBA Finals MVP, and his band, refused to pass up the opportunity of making history on home turf.
After four quarters full of drama, Jokic led his team to a historic victory with 28 points and 16 rebounds, while his teammates, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr each contributed a crucial 30 points.
In the end, the Nuggets, who were tipped as favourites heading into the post-season, rose atop the 2023 NBA Finals as champions.
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Nuggets history in the NBA Finals
The Nuggets’ first appearance in the NBA Finals came in the 1975-1976 season. Coached by Larry Brown and led by star players such as David Thompson and Dan Issel, the Nuggets made a strong run to the Finals.
However, they faced a formidable opponent in the heavily favoured Boston Celtics, who were led by Hall of Famers John Havlicek and Dave Cowens.
The Nuggets put up a valiant fight, but ultimately fell short, losing in six games as the Celtics claimed the championship.
Following their initial Finals appearance, the Nuggets had a relatively quiet period in terms of deep playoff runs. It wasn’t until the 1984-1985 season that they returned to the postseason and made another run to the NBA Finals.
Led by the talented trio of Alex English, Fat Lever, and Calvin Natt, the Nuggets showcased an exciting and high-scoring brand of basketball.
However, their journey was halted by the powerhouse Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who swept the Nuggets in the Finals.
Since their Finals appearance in 1985, the Nuggets have had varying levels of success in the postseason but have not reached the NBA Finals again.
They have had several memorable teams and star players, including Dikembe Mutombo, Chauncey Billups, and Carmelo Anthony, who helped elevate the team’s competitiveness.
In recent years, the Nuggets have been a consistent playoff team under the leadership of head coach Michael Malone and the emergence of star centre Nikola JokiΔ.
They reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2020 NBA playoffs, where they faced the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
While falling short of the NBA Finals, the Nuggets demonstrated their potential as a formidable team in the highly competitive Western Conference.