Jokic, Nuggets cruise by Heat

DENVER — Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut, Jamal Murray added 26 points and the Denver Nuggets had little trouble with the cold-shooting Miami Heat on the way to a 104-93 win Thursday night as the best-of-seven title series tipped off in the Mile High City.

Jokic finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who waited 47 years to make the NBA Finals and didn’t disappoint. Aaron Gordon added 16 points and Michael Porter Jr. scored 14 for Denver, which trailed for all of 34 seconds and eventually led by as many as 24 points.

Bam Adebayo finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, which shot 41% for the game, including 33% from 3-point range. Gabe Vincent scored 19 points, Haywood Highsmith had 18 and Jimmy Butler added 13 for the Heat, who won the Eastern Conference title as a No. 8 seed and are the first team to reach the NBA Finals after coming through the play-in tournament.

While the Heat were playing just three days after winning a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics, the Nuggets were back in action for the first time since completing a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference title series on May 22.

Miami fell to 1-6 all-time in NBA Finals openers. Game 2 is Sunday night in Denver.

The Heat opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run, cutting an 84-63 deficit to start the final period down to 84-74. They got within nine on a 3-pointer by Highsmith with 2:34 left but no closer — and there wasn’t any doubt, either.