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Heat's Kyle Lowry offers high praise to Nuggets duo
The Nuggets are only three wins from an NBA title. If, or, more likely, when Denver finishes Miami off, it won't be due to the Heat giving the Nuggets bulletin board material.
Kyle Lowry compares the duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to Tim Duncan and Tony Parker #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV Game 2 Media Availability
— NBA (@NBA) June 3, 2023
MIA/DEN Game 2: Sunday, 8pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/Gaz0gFcqkk
During media availability prior to Game 2 on Sunday night, Heat guard Kyle Lowry heaped praise upon Denver's lethal duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, putting them in the same class as the all-time great Spurs duo of Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
Based on that comparison, the Nuggets are on the brink of the next great NBA dynasty. Duncan and Parker won four titles together, including three in a five-year span from 2003-07.
San Antonio's duo was a part of the franchise's 2014 championship run as well. That team is remembered for its sublime ball movement, something Denver is excellent at as well thanks to Jokic and Murray.
The pair became the first teammates to have double-digit assists in their Finals debut in Game 1 and only the third overall. The duos they joined are in the pantheon of NBA greats alongside Duncan and Parker.
Nikola Jokic (14 AST) and Jamal Murray (10 AST) are the first pair of teammates to each record 10+ assists in their Finals debut!
— NBA (@NBA) June 3, 2023
MIA/DEN Game 2: Sunday, 8pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/CjgtIjohAw
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the 3rd pair of teammates to each record 10+ assists in a Finals game... joining ELITE company
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) June 2, 2023
Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen (3x)
Magic Johnson & James Worthy (2x) pic.twitter.com/iUxi2RVx9J
Jokic and Murray also combined for 53 points on Thursday, with both scoring more than 25 points. That, too, puts them in the upper echelon of NBA duos.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the 2nd pair of teammates to each have 25 points and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game, joining Magic Johnson and James Worthy in 1987. pic.twitter.com/v6Y7mqRbzL
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 2, 2023
Duncan had one title under his belt by the time Parker was drafted in 2001, and it fittingly came against the only other eight-seed to ever reach the NBA Finals, the Knicks in 1999.
Duncan was named Finals MVP that year and got things started with 33 points and 16 rebounds. He finished the series averaging 27.4 points and 14 rebounds per game.
Parker scored 26 points in his Finals debut in 2003 against the Nets but struggled during the final three games of the sweep, averaging seven points on 25.8% shooting.
It wouldn't be smart to bet on Murray experiencing similar struggles, meaning the Heat are going to have to find a way to keep up the pace if it wants to pull off the comeback.
Despite Lowry's assurances, we should still anticipate Jokic, Murray and the rest of the Nuggets to rail against people for not believing in them even though most anticipate they will win the series.
No one should bat an eye at Lowry's comparison because he's right. Jokic and Murray are playing like champions.
More must-reads:
- Nikola Jokic makes Finals history in Game 1 win over Heat
- Nikola Jokic’s Intriguing Take On Tim Duncan Comparison
- The 'Leading scorers from the 2023 NBA playoffs' quiz
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