Are Jokic and Murray the best duo in the NBA today?

The NBA Finals may not be won by denver nuggets, as the series is still 3-1 against the Miami Heat. But, without a doubt, the most memorable performance to date that anticipates Game 5 is that of Nikola Jokic with Jamal Murray. The duo has been breaking records and proving to be overwhelming at such a crucial moment as the dispute for the champion’s trophy.

In the Playoffs so far, Jokic has averaged 30.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists, while Jamal Murray has averaged 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists. Averages that show the superiority of both throughout the postseason. And how nothing matters but winning the first championship in Denver Nuggets history. Especially when, after the games, reporters question the importance of the achievements achieved and both, on the same page, do not attach great value to anything other than victory.

During the NBA Finals, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray became the first duo to record a triple-double in a Finals series. That’s during Game 3. And the two main pieces of the Denver Nuggets have been proving even better over the years. That’s because the athletes are complementing each other better with each game and, focused on a single goal, they have shown great connection, especially in this challenge against the Miami Heat.

In this season’s Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets had to face teams with good defenses. The Heat are one of them, as they proved effective in the second game of the series. And, especially, in the Western Conference Finals, where they swept the Los Angeles Lakers, which until then was one of the most solid defenses of the current NBA season. And the key to these triumphs has been Jokic’s dominance and game vision along with Jamal Murray’s lethal hitting ability. The dynamism of the duo ends up making the opposing defenses, no matter how good they are, need to share attention and, therefore, lose efficiency when it comes to neutralizing Denver.

Both started playing together in 2016, failing to make the Playoffs in their first two years. Thing that changed in the next five seasons. Only during the 2022 season did they fail to get past the first round, due to a ligament injury to Jamal Murray. Just last season, Jokic’s partner finished third in the NBA among point guards in assists leading directly to scoring, according to the NBA. That, even with the injury happening before the last month of the season.

And when both are on the court, it is possible to see the connection of a duo that knows how to read each other’s game. Murray, when he is with Jokic, understands when he needs to pace the game more, when he needs to accelerate or open space for the Serb to have a better court angle. Both have become the duo with the most productive pick-and-roll in the NBA, according to the league.

Now, the Denver Nuggets found themselves with a roster filled with young players who are “on the same page” as Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, bruce brown It is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. With that, it is possible not only that they win the series today, against the Miami Heat, in game 5 that starts at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) with transmission from ESPN. But also, that they continue to build a dynasty that will last, at least in the conference finals, for a good few years.