The Denver Nuggets clinched their first NBA title as a 94-89 win over the Miami Heat sealed a 4-1 series triumph.
Nikola Jokic led his side to victory with 28 points to end the Nuggets 47-year wait for the championship trophy.
Serb Jokic, 28, was named the Finals' most valuable player to add to the two overall MVPs he won in 2021 and 2022.
"We're not in it for ourselves, we're in it for the guy next to us and that's why this [means] even more," Jokic said following victory at Ball Arena.
Jokic also contributed 16 rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr added 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Nuggets ground out the decisive victory in game five.
The Nuggets never lost more than twice in any of their play-off series, ending their march towards a historic success with 10 victories in their last 11 post-season games.
Denver trailed 71-70 at the start of the fourth quarter, and 89-88 with just under two minutes remaining, but the hosts would not be denied after they hit the front with a Bruce Brown lay-up.
For Miami, Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Bam Adebayo 20 but they were unable to keep their hopes of an unlikely comeback alive.
Only one of the 36 teams to have previously fallen 3-1 behind in an NBA Finals - the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 - had managed to come back to win the championship.
"It was an amazing effort by the team," Jokic said.
"That is why basketball is a fun sport, it is a live thing, you cannot say this going to happen, there are so many factors.
"I'm just happy we won the game."
Nuggets coach Michael Malone told the home supporters: "I've got news for everyone out there. We are not satisfied with one."
Latest Stories
-
Real Madrid beat Sevilla to keep pressure on leaders Atletico
21 minutes -
Liverpool put six past Spurs to go four points clear
22 minutes -
Manchester United lose 3-0 at home to Bournemouth yet again
26 minutes -
CHAN 2024Q: ‘It’s still an open game’ – Didi on Ghana’s draw with Nigeria
34 minutes -
CHAN 2024Q: Ghana’s Black Galaxies held by Nigeria in first-leg tie
2 hours -
Dr Nduom hopeful defunct GN bank will be restored under Mahama administration
2 hours -
Bridget Bonnie celebrates NDC Victory, champions hope for women and youth
2 hours -
Shamima Muslim urges youth to lead Ghana’s renewal at 18Plus4NDC anniversary
3 hours -
Akufo-Addo condemns post-election violence, blames NDC
3 hours -
DAMC, Free Food Company, to distribute 10,000 packs of food to street kids
5 hours -
Kwame Boafo Akuffo: Court ruling on re-collation flawed
5 hours -
Samuel Yaw Adusei: The strategist behind NDC’s electoral security in Ashanti region
5 hours -
I’m confident posterity will judge my performance well – Akufo-Addo
5 hours -
Syria’s minorities seek security as country charts new future
6 hours -
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
6 hours