The Joker got the last laugh, and — for the first time ever — the Denver Nuggets are NBA champions.
Denver closed out the NBA Finals on Monday night, winning Game 5 at home 94-89 to seal the series at 4-1.
The Nuggets trailed by a point with 91 seconds to play, but then scored six straight points to put the game on ice at Ball Arena. Bruce Brown sank a jumper and swished a pair of free throws, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit two shots from the charity stripe and grabbed the game’s final rebound after an errant 3-pointer from Kyle Lowry.
Confetti rained down and lights flashed as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and co. celebrated.
Here were the final moments of the game:
The Denver Nuggets are NBA Champions for the 1st time in the franchise's history 👏
🏆 GAME 5 FINAL SCORE 🏆
DEN: 94
MIA: 89 pic.twitter.com/TDGO42ctwt— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2023
NUGGETS NATION…
WE DID IT
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 13, 2023
The Jokic brothers hoist Coach Malone in celebration as the Nuggets are NBA Champions! pic.twitter.com/1WkkYmO6iD
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2023
As usual, Jokic was stoic and largely unemotional after the victory. It seems like he calmed down a bit after a brief outburst of anger earlier in the game.
Nikola Jokic and his brother; kiss on the cheek pic.twitter.com/lWzCHngFkg
— Oh no he didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 13, 2023
Now, after pouring in 28 points and 16 rebounds in Denver’s decisive Game 5 win — another performance contributing to the case for him to be Finals MVP — Jokic can go buy another horse.
