Mike Malone said before Game 1 that one thing this team was missing was a closer. But he said Nikola Jokic stepped up into that role this season, hitting game-winning shots. With Denver down 97-96 in the final minute, Jokic turned the ball over on a drive. And with 13.3 seconds left, still down one, the Nuggets turned to Jamal Murray, who missed a jumper. Murray had airballed a jumper a few moments earlier as well. And then down three, Murray lost the ball near halfcourt bringing it up as Denver wouldn’t get a shot at tying the game late. Closing in the regular season is much different than closing in a playoff game.
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