Nuggets showing plenty of poise in these NBA Finals against Heat

MIAMI (AP) — The Denver Nuggets act like they’ve been here before.

There is an unmistakable poise to the Nuggets, who are only one win away from their first NBA championship and could hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy as early as Monday night when the finals return to Denver for Game 5. Their stars have been starry in their first finals appearance. Their role players have delivered. There hasn’t been a colossal blunder. And even on the cusp of a title, they refuse to change their approach.

“We need to win one more,” two-time MVP Nikola Jokic said.

That’s the Nuggets. Simple. Effective. Blunt.

With Jokic and Jamal Murray leading the way, and with basically a different person stepping up to be the third hero every night so far for the Nuggets, they have the Miami Heat in serious trouble now. They lead the finals 3-1 and with potentially two of the next three games — if needed — in Denver.

“We get an opportunity to play a super competitive game in a great environment," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s going to be an awesome environment. Our guys are built for that. They love that. … Yeah, we understand what the narrative will be, but that’s the way it is with our team.”

History says this series is pretty much over; only one team in NBA history has dug its way out of such a hole in the finals, that being the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors. Heat forward Kevin Love played for that Cleveland team.

“Forget the game,” Love said. “It’s just one possession, one quarter, half by half. Just get it done by any means necessary and we’ll figure the rest out.”

It will be a daunting task.

The Nuggets have held Miami under 100 points three times through the first four games; those were the three Denver wins in the series. They’re 9-1 at home, the only loss coming in Game 2 of this series when Miami pulled off a big rally and survived when a potentially game-tying 3-pointer by Jamal Murray missed at the buzzer.

“This is what I always tell my guys: Winning a championship will be the hardest thing you ever do,” said Heat forward Udonis Haslem, a three-time champion whose 20-year career ends when this series ends. “People only talk about the parade and holding up the trophy. They don’t talk about the journey, the sleepless nights, the frustration, the tears, the pain. They don’t talk about that (stuff). This is all part of that.”

Denver isn’t talking about a parade; some city officials in Dallas were during the 2006 finals when the Mavericks led Miami 2-0, and the Heat won the next four games. The Nuggets aren’t making any such blunders. No blunders at all, really. Every detail is covered, even remembering to run the 24-second shot clock down to the very end on multiple possessions in the final minutes of Game 4, just to shorten the game and limit whatever chance Miami had at making a comeback.

“We’ve done our job. But we’re not celebrating like we’ve done anything yet,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We know we’re going to have to go home and turn off the TV, the radio, don’t read the papers, don’t listen to everybody telling you how great you are. … We stay true to our identity.”

Here’s what that means: The Nuggets have two exceptional players, a two-time MVP in Jokic playing the role of Batman and a still-rising star in Murray happily playing the role of Robin in Denver’s superhero duo.

Jokic — who will never willingly enter a conversation about his incredible stats — is on the cusp of becoming the first player to ever lead the NBA in points, rebounds and assists during a postseason. Murray is the first player to have at least 10 assists in each of his four finals games. They have been the 1-2 punch that has put Miami on the ropes throughout this series.

And then there’s always a third or fourth hero to finish the job. In Game 1, it was Michael Porter Jr. with 14 points and 13 rebounds. In Game 3, it was rookie Christian Braun with 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting. In Game 4, it was Aaron Gordon with a team-high 27 points and Bruce Brown with 21 off the bench.

“That’s just how this team is built,” Gordon said. “We have guys that can step up night in and night out. Sometimes it’s not going to be your night, and sometimes it is going to be your night. This team does a good job finding the people that are kind of in a rhythm and kind of going.”

Jokic gets most of the credit and doesn’t want it. Murray doesn’t get enough credit and doesn’t care about that, either. The other guys, they just take their cues from Jokic and Murray and find a way.

If they do it one more time, they’ll be getting rings in a few months.

“We’re just ready to win a championship,” Murray said. “We have the tools to do it. It’s been on our minds for a while. We’re just locked in. I don’t think you’ve got to overthink it. We’re just dialed in, ready to win.”

The road of Ish: On NBA-record 13th different team, Nuggets well-traveled guard 1 win from title

DENVER (AP) — Ish Smith has suited up for an NBA-record 13 different teams — nearly half the league — over his 13-year career.

Team No. 13, the Denver Nuggets, has truly proven lucky for the longtime point guard whose journey has included seven trades, six releases and two early G-League stints.

The road well-traveled by Ish (full name: Ishmael) has led him here, his first NBA Finals as the Nuggets sit a win away from the franchise's first championship. Up 3-1 on Miami, the team could clinch Monday night at home in Game 5.

It hardly matters that Smith, who turns 35 next month, hasn't played much in the playoffs — or at all in the Finals. He's content with having the best seat in the house on the bench and doing what he's always done so well — encourage. He's become an assistant coach-ish type of presence and a voice that resonates throughout the locker room.

“When you can have veterans that are truly selfless and not worried about, ‘Hey, I’m not in the playoff rotation,’ but they’re still invested in the team and the team’s success and they’re willing to use their voice in a positive manner, that is really impactful,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

Smith broke into the league in 2010 with the Houston Rockets as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest. One of his teammates at the time was Heat guard Kyle Lowry, who still to this day affectionately refers to Smith as “Rook” — short for rookie.

“He’s a guy who persevered. Wasn’t the greatest shooter, wasn’t the greatest this, but he just found a way to find a niche in this league and find a niche on every single team he’s been on,” Lowry said. “And to be a great veteran, a great veteran presence, a great positive vibe for every team he’s played for.

“Thirteen teams is a lot of teams, but obviously he’s done his job. ... He’s done something correct.”

In addition to Houston and Denver, Smith's tour around the 30-team NBA includes stops in Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Charlotte. He appeared in 43 games over the regular season for the Nuggets. In the Finals, his role has been reduced to more of a motivator.

Other sage veterans weigh in, too.

There's 34-year-old DeAndre Jordan, Reggie Jackson, 33, and 36-year-old Jeff Green, who's an integral part of the second unit. The Nuggets have won two straight since he hosted a team dinner at his house in Miami before Game 3.

“When they talk, everybody listens because if you listen to them, you can hear some really smart things that can help you play the game,” Nuggets do-it-all center Nikola Jokic said. “I really appreciate and am really thankful for them.”

Over his career, Smith's filled every kind of role (he started 50 games in Philly in 2015-16 when he averaged a career-best 14.7 points) and worn 10 different uniform numbers. His favorite is No. 14, which is his current number.

Somewhere, Smith has his vast collection of past jerseys. They're probably at his mom's house, he believes, for safe keeping — considering all the moves he's made.

Someday, he'll round them up. But not to be framed and placed on a wall.

“That just feels narcissistic, like me celebrating me,” Smith said.

Instead, his plan is to celebrate others in the form of themed walls around his home. On one wall, uniforms worn by players who've hailed from the state of North Carolina, an homage to his Charlotte roots.

Another wall will be dedicated to veteran players he's crossed paths with (such as Jordan and Green in Denver). A third wall will feature a tribute to Wake Forest royalty (think: Muggsy Bogues, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan).

Lastly, a championship wall, which he's hoping includes everyone from this Nuggets roster.

“It’s been fun. I can’t even lie to you. You usually don’t say that when you’re not playing and you’re in a leadership role," Smith said. “It’s truly been fun.”

The secret to Smith's longevity has been a simple rule — don’t take anything personal. That applies to criticism or basketball decisions. He was part of the deal that brought Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Nuggets last offseason from Washington in exchange for Will Barton and Monte Morris.

“Realize what you have to do to get better and find your fit,” said Smith, whose wife is expecting in three months. “On top of that, just keep going, keep pushing, keep pressing.”

As for how much longer he wants to play, that's easy.

“Until they cut off the lights and say don’t come back," Smith joked.