Udonis Haslem has enjoyed a charmed 20-season NBA career.
The Miami Heat icon has been a party to all seven of the franchise’s NBA Finals appearances, and now he owns a league record that stands as a testimony to his longevity.
Haslem, who will turn 43 on Friday, became the oldest player to appear in an NBA Finals game when he checked into Game 3 in the final minute Wednesday night at Kaseya Center in Miami. He attempted one shot from the field and missed, as the Nuggets beat the Heat, 109–94, to take a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven Finals.
Author: Michael
The Sooners are going for the second three-peat in NCAA softball history.
Just when it looked like the Heat might seize control of the Finals, the Nuggets roared back, hammering Miami 109–94 in Game 3 to reclaim home court advantage and take a 2–1 series lead.
Here are three thoughts on the Nuggets’ win.
Denver’s stars showed up
Following up perhaps the most widely panned 41-point performance in Finals history, Nikola Jokić submitted a Jokić-ey 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, racking up his NBA single-season record 10th playoff triple double—and the first 30-20-10 game in Finals history.
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The Nuggets teammates made history in the NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the twin engines powering the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals. Jokic is playing like the best basketball player in the world. Murray is only adding to his reputation as someone who raises his game in the playoffs. Together, the duo have the Nuggets only two wins away from a championship after an incredible performance to blow out the Miami Heat in Game 3.
The Nuggets beat the Heat, 109-94, on Wednesday night to go up 2-1 in the NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokić’s name is etched into NBA record books once again after his dominant performance in the Nuggets’ 109–94 Game 3 win over the Heat on Wednesday night.
The two-time MVP finished the game with a remarkable 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, marking the first 30–20–10 game in NBA Finals history.
Wednesday’s performance is Jokić’s third 30-20-10 playoff game of his stunning postseason run. The other two instances came in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals vs. the Lakers (30 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists) and during Game 6 of the conference semifinals vs.
Sometimes, in the NBA Finals, an otherwise ordinary player rises above their station to win the hearts of fans everywhere.
Think of forward Robert Horry, who averaged 10 or more points just three times in his career but repeatedly came up big for seven championship teams. Or forward Andre Iguodala, who limited LeBron James in his prime and won a Finals MVP 11 years into his career.
On Wednesday, a new name made a case for that list: rookie Nuggets guard Christian Braun.
A 4.
Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray finished with triple-doubles as Denver set the tone in Miami and moved within a pair of wins of their first Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Don’t hate the player, hate the game. The King of Staten Island or the hardwood court? Don’t sleep on Pete Davidson’s basketball skills.
Though mostly known for bagging A-list bachelorettes and telling PETA to screw off, Davidson ain’t that bad a basketball player either.
The SNL alum visited the UNLV Rebels for a hooping session on Wednesday. Davidson broke out the smooth handles and clean finishes at the rim — moving like a real baller.
Sad but true.
UNLV posted on social media: “Introducing our newest walk-on.. Pistol Pete Davidson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars released renderings of a proposed redesign of TIAA Bank Stadium on Wednesday. And they are massive.
The Jaguars have frequently been considered a target for possible relocation, given attendance challenges and their extremely small market.
But team owner Shad Khan certainly seems committed to remaining in Northeastern Florida.
Renderings of what the team is calling the “stadium of the future” are impressive and show a complete reimagining of the facility.
Shortly after it was announced Wednesday that Lionel Messi would be joining MLS’s Inter Miami, his longtime former club, FC Barcelona, released a statement wishing the player “the best of luck.”
A reunion with Barcelona was considered to be in play for Messi after he concluded his tenure with Paris Saint-Germain last week. It was confirmed in the club’s statement that the team offered Messi a proposal to return to the club where he played for 21 years.
But the brief statement seemed a tad petty in its wording in the estimation of some fans.