One Denver-area television reporter made sure to use all of his senses when describing the scene outside Ball Arena following Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
“It feels like victory, it sounds like victory, it smells like victory and also legalization,” Denver7 evening anchor Shannon Ogden said, according to Awful Announcing.
“They’re having a great time out here.”
The line, and Ogden’s apparent observation of cannabis, was captured on a live segment from Denver’s ABC affiliate and was part of the station’s coverage following the Nuggets’ 104-93 victory over the Heat on Thursday night.
Ogden reported throughout the evening from Brooklyn’s at Ball Arena, a sports bar that’s “in my opinion the second-best place to watch a Nuggets game,” he said during a pregame segment.
Following his description, Ogden passed the live segment to another Denver7 reporter in “Playoff Plaza.”
Colorado was one of the first two states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, with Amendment 64 getting voted on in 2012 and retail sales beginning around two years later, according to multiple timelines.
The Nuggets are looking for their first NBA title in franchise history, and they cruised to a 17-point halftime lead against Miami — which entered following a seven-game Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics — and withstood a second-half comeback that trimmed the lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter.
Nikola Jokic finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, though he only had 10 points at halftime and the Nuggets — entering off a sweep against the Lakers and having not played since May 22 — still led by 17 after 24 minutes.
“I think that’s what the beauty of this team is,” Jamal Murray, who finished with 26 points for Denver, said, according to the Associated Press.
“We have so many different weapons and so many different looks. You’ve got to guard everybody.”
With the victory, Denver moved to 9-0 at home in the 2023 NBA playoffs, and they’ll have the chance to extend that winning streak at Ball Arena again in Game 2 on Sunday.