Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic made NBA Finals history in Game 3 against the Miami Heat.
The two-time Finals MVP became the first player to have at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a Finals game.
“To be honest, I just think it’s a win because if you lose, nobody is going to even mention,” Jokic said. “I don’t care. It’s just a stat.”
Jokic finished Game 3 with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists in 44 minutes while shooting 12-of-21 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. The All-Star had a plus-minus of +15 as the Nuggets won by a final score of 109-94.
NBA NEWS & FINALS COVERAGE: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Miami Heat Updates
“When you lose the game, of course, it’s a bad atmosphere, whatever, it’s a bad momentum,” Jokic said. “But maybe help us to refocus and just be better in the details. But that doesn’t mean that we can relax now or whatever. We need to have the same effort because they’re going to be even better. So we need just to have the same or better focus and effort in Game 4.”
The Nuggets reclaimed home-court advantage by winning Game 3. They can take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series by winning Game 4, which is on June 9.
“I mean, this is the right time if you’re going to play your best basketball, I think this is the right time to play your best basketball,” Jokic said. “But I think, like you said, the team is really important, yes. A couple guys maybe didn’t make shots or they didn’t play well, but there is other guys who can step up and fill that position and be even better. Is this the best basketball that we’ve played? I don’t know. As long as we’re winning games, I think.”
NBA NEWS & FINALS COVERAGE: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Miami Heat Updates
The Nuggets are two wins away from winning their first title in franchise history.
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