Porter goes down after Adebayo imbroglio
Michael Porter jnr copped a stray forearm from Adebayo as they jostled for the ball and the Nuggets forward stayed down afterwards as the Heat regained possession with their centre dunking at the other end of the court.
Denver call a time-out while Porter receives treatment.
Nuggets 39-31 with 7:18 left in 2Q
Jokic having a rest but Nuggets maintain momentum
Even with the Joker getting a well-earned break on the pine, Denver have kept the momentum early in the second quarter.
Murray hit a silky three from the top of the key and Porter did likewise from the corner.
Nuggets 35-24 with 9:08 left in 2Q
Denver dominate first quarter with all-round brilliance
If the first quarter is any indication, this series may not last five games … but it’s early days.
Miami have locked in on trying to prevent Jokic from scoring but he’s so good it doesn’t matter because he’s setting up his teammates with ease.
Aaron Gordon dunks.Credit: AP
Jokic registered his only points in the closing stages when he slapped the ball away from Cody Zeller to score from close range.
Denver have shot at 59.1% for the first quarter despite only hitting one of six threes while Miami are a woeful 34.6% from the field with two of eight from range.
Bam Adebayo is their leading scorer with eight but he’s failing in his main mission of trying to limit Jokic’s offensive wizardry.
Nuggets 29-20 after 1Q
Jokic making Miami pay without taking a shot
Miami are loading up on Nikola Jokic and he is happily dishing to open teammates.
Porter drains a corner three as the home side stretch out to a seven-point lead heading into a time-out with two minutes left in the opening term.
Jokic hasn’t bothered shooting but has six assists already.
Gordon is benefiting from the Heat’s plan, he’s hit six of eight shots, often left unmarked for a game-high 12 points.
27-20 with 1:59 left in 1Q
Bam goes wham with a timely slam for Miami
Bam Adebayo throws down a hammer dunk for Miami after they regrouped in their time-out but Porter produces his second athletic block to deny Caleb Martin.
The Heat close the gap to two before Murray responds with a dunk of his own and Gordon gets another lay-up. Nuggets 20-14
A standing ovation for Nuggets after golden start
Aaron Gordon hits his fourth two-pointer and Miami coach Erik Spoelstra coach has seen enough, burning an early time-out.
The Denver crowd rises to their feet to cheer their starting five to the bench.
Not good signs for the Heat early – Denver are having their way with them and Gordon, not a noted scorer since his switch from Orlando, is feasting in the paint as Miami double-team Jokic.
Nuggets 14-9 with 6:34 left in 1Q
Intensity high in early exchanges but both teams finding the basket
Jimmy Butler opened the scoring for Miami with a baseline jumper and then knocked down a three while Aaron Gordon, after an air-ball from beyond the arc, found better luck in the paint.
Nikola Jokic gets his first points with a couple of free throws. Nuggets 8-7
Jamal Murray looks to drive.Credit: Getty
And we are underway in the Mile High City
Tip-off after the usual delay beyond the supposed start time.
Starting fives are as expected and Denver get first use of the ball after winning the tip.
They open the scoring via a Jamal Murray drive to the hoop. Nuggets 2-0
Heat not fazed by weight of history being against them
Miami are just the second eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals after the New York Knicks did likewise in 1999 even without injured star Patrick Ewing.
“We love being around each other. We want to see each other succeed,” Jimmy Butler said. “We really do enjoy when each other play well, and we’re going to continue to do that, never going to get rattled, and we’re going to see where we end up.”
Butler is making his second finals appearance after leading Miami to the 2020 decider in the Orlando bubble, which was won by the Lakers in six.
Heat guard Tyler Herro has been officially ruled out of a comeback from a broken hand in game one but coach Erik Spoelstra said he is close to returning.
