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Denver Nuggets make history, take NBA crown from the Golden State Warriors

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets after Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on April 27, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 27: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets after Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on April 27, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors are no longer NBA champions with the Denver Nuggets delivering a long-awaited title after a hard-fought 94-89 Game 5 victory over the Miami Heat at home on Monday night.

After two well-orchestrated victories in Miami, the Nuggets took an imposing 3-1 lead back home in front of their home fans. Still, the Heat weren’t about to let their fairytale story from the Eastern Conference eighth-seed die easily, battling down the stretch in a game that went right down to the final 20 seconds.

The Denver Nuggets have been crowned 2023 NBA champions, ending the Golden State Warriors’ reign just four days short of a full 12 months.

There were clear signs of nerves for the Nuggets who were looking to end their 47-year drought with an inaugural NBA championship. But after a slow start where they trailed by seven points at half-time, a stifling Denver defense kept the Heat to just 38 second-half points in a low-scoring affair.

Following another 28-point, 16-rebound display in Game 5, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic was unsurprisingly named Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP, taking the mantle from Stephen Curry after his dominant performance against the Boston Celtics a year ago.

Golden State’s reign as champions were always going to come to an end following a disappointing second-round exit against the Los Angeles Lakers, but no monumental favorite was in place heading to the Conference Finals.

The Nuggets were ultimately rewarded for their consistent excellence, not just throughout this season but as a perennial playoff team over the last five seasons. While fans and analysts were well infatuated by the sixth-seed Warriors and seventh-seed Lakers, Denver continued to go about their business as the best team in the Western Conference.

With co-stars Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. returning from injury, and Jokic continuing his dominance as arguably the best player in the world, the Nuggets took hold of the Western Conference first-seed on December 20 and never relinquished it thereafter.

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Possessing a young and deep roster surrounding their all-time great center, there’s no signs that Denver will be going anywhere in the short-term future. Now, it’s up to the Warriors and 28 other teams to try and gain supremacy as we look ahead to a much-anticipated 2023-24 NBA season.

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