NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

June 1, 2023

Michael Porter Jr.

Denver Nuggets

Game 1: Postgame

Denver Nuggets 104, Miami Heat 93

Q. How does the head/face feel? What happened on that play?

MICHAEL PORTER JR.: I just got hit with an elbow. But that’s what it is at this point in the season. People are scratching and clawing to get a win. Bam checked on me to make sure I was cool. It’s all love. That’s part of it.

Q. How does your first NBA Finals win feel?

MICHAEL PORTER JR.: It was good. It was definitely some healthy nerves there for the whole team. We haven’t played in a while so we were definitely tired, but got two days to stay in rhythm, stay making adjustments and we will be all right.

Q. Win another Game 1. How important is that to keep doing that every series of this playoffs?

MICHAEL PORTER JR.: Got to. Got to protect home court. We know how good we are here. To get off to a good start in the series is big for us. We’ve been able to do that every series so far, so we are looking to continue that.

Q. Joker with a big triple-double in his NBA Finals debut. How special is that?

MICHAEL PORTER JR.: It’s unreal. I think someone said he only shot the ball three times in the first half. Just how he plays, how the game comes to him, the way they were playing him -- he was just passing. Jamal had it going. Aaron had it going. And then to still end up with that triple-double just shows how special he is.