CELEB WATCHįormer Heat player and NBA champion Mike Miller - now an agent - was at the game, along with one of his clients, Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic. The only other players in the last 25 years to have that in any quarter of a finals game were Stephen Curry (12-7-5) for Golden State in the third quarter against Cleveland on June 4, 2017, and Shaquille O’Neal (12-7-3) for the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter against Philadelphia on June 8, 2001. Jokic had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the first quarter. He became the oldest player to appear in the NBA Finals, breaking the mark of 42 years, 58 days set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 13, 1989. Miami’s Udonis Haslem - in his 20th and final season - set a record. The Heat won Game 7 and went on to beat Oklahoma City for James’ first title. Wednesday was the 11th anniversary of LeBron James’ 45-point, 15-rebound, five-assist game at Boston in Game 6 of the East finals - staving off elimination. The Heat didn’t have any “home” games in the 2020 finals, which were held in the NBA’s restart bubble near Orlando. Heat: It was the first finals game in Miami since 2014.

Jokic played in both of those games, Murray in the second one early in his rookie season. Denver hadn’t lost two consecutive games to Miami since March 14 and Nov. Nuggets: Denver used Reggie Jackson in the first quarter, going nine deep in the opening 12 minutes for the first time since Game 2 of the West finals.

Download 2001 club center drive