The 2022/23 NBA Finals are locked in as the Denver Nuggets face off with the Miami Heat.
We preview Game 1 as Denver looks to kick-start their first-ever Finals series with victory at home.
Nuggets vs. Heat
2nd June 10:30am
It may have taken seven nerve-racking games to get there, but Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat will officially take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the 2022/23 NBA Finals series.
The Heat became just the second 8th seed in NBA history to clinch a Finals spot when they defeated the Boston Celtics by 19 points in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
After leading the series 3-0, it soon became a tough slog for the Heat as the Celtics fought back with three consecutive wins in Florida and Boston.
After a devastating 103-104 Game 6 loss, however, the Heat picked themselves off the canvas and delivered a knockout blow on the back of a 26-point and 10-rebound performance by Caleb Martin. He announced himself with 11 of 16 for the night and 67% from beyond the arc.
Jimmy Butler shot 17 points in the second half and finished with a game-high 28, while Bam Adebayo added 12 points and 10 boards.
The task for the Heat gets infinitely more challenging as they now face a Nuggets side playing in their first-ever NBA Finals series. The market has certainly followed the Western Conference champions, with Denver currently trading at $1.26 to take out Game 1.
The Nuggets will be well-rested after their Conference Finals performance, whereby they swept the Lakers 4-0. Jamal Murray lifted in a big way during the four-game stretch, averaging 32.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.8 steals.
The key to Denver claiming their first championship in franchise history undoubtedly lies with their two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic. The Joker has been unstoppable this post-season with a triple-double average of 29.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists.
Add in the valuable contributions of Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown, and it’s clear that the Nuggets are the team to beat.
With the Nuggets playing at home after an extra week’s rest, we’re backing them to open their Finals account with a Game 1 victory.
Suggested Tip: Same Game Multi
- Nuggets to win
- J. Murray over 24.5 points
- N. Jokic over 12.5 rebounds
- C. Martin 2+ three pointers
- Total: $4.60
