Nuggets take home 1st NBA title in rugged 94-89 win over Heat

1. Jamal Murray returns from injury. Murray, who missed the entire 2021-22 season with a torn ACL, played a key role in the Nuggets' victory, scoring 13 points in Game 5.

[{"selector":"#anim-5ea57354-8df4-43cc-87bb-f7d5d24ee5ef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-30.740075896645042%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Michael Porter Jr. shines in the playoffs. Porter Jr., who was also injured for most of the regular season, averaged 19.2 points per game in the playoffs, helping the Nuggets reach the NBA Finals.

[{"selector":"#anim-24e1dfde-2ecf-4515-85c6-29c5a7ca23b4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.65652643736508%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Coach Michael Malone is a winner. Malone has now led the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals three times in his six seasons as head coach.

[{"selector":"#anim-fc3b6c62-dbbe-4379-943b-e9dfd7bcb3da [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.240568296631277%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Nuggets are a young team. The average age of the Nuggets' starting lineup in Game 5 was 25.5 years old.

[{"selector":"#anim-caac47dc-827c-4bd1-8a95-e8255e330202 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.90624987200394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Nuggets are a deep team. The Nuggets had 10 players who averaged at least 10 minutes per game in the playoffs.

[{"selector":"#anim-09d2c68e-35f7-4596-af9d-ffb67366be14 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Nuggets are a hungry team. The Nuggets had not won an NBA title in 26 years, and they were determined to bring one home.

[{"selector":"#anim-bcac44d4-e8ff-41bf-8930-bd3e65b48eb6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-0.003186846034842337%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Nuggets are a beloved team. The Nuggets have a passionate fan base in Denver, and the city was ecstatic after the team won the title.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3d253b7-f27f-4549-98c5-872ea01cae06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Nuggets are a role model for other small-market teams. The Nuggets' victory showed that small-market teams can still compete for and win NBA championships.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b604ee4-335a-4eac-839c-141580f255ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.22961945131945%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] The Nuggets are a reminder that anything is possible. The Nuggets were not the favorites to win the NBA title this season, but they proved that anything is possible when a team is committed to winning.

[{"selector":"#anim-bac297bf-bbc8-4d7e-ae0f-c713e0b0db51 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.812499744007886%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The Nuggets are a champion. The Nuggets are now officially NBA champions, and they will be celebrating their victory for years to come.