The 2023 NBA Finals Preview: Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat
The 2023 NBA Finals are set to take place between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat. The Heat were the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Nuggets were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. In this article, we will preview the upcoming NBA Finals between these two teams.
The Teams
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets finished the regular season with a 53-29 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Led by two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have swept their way through the Western Conference playoffs, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat finished the regular season with a 44-38 record, earning the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite being an underdog in each series they played in, the Heat have dismantled the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, knocked out the New York Knicks, and beat the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals to earn their spot in the NBA Finals.
Full Schedule
The 2023 NBA Finals will take place from June 1 to June 18, with games airing nationally on ABC and available for streaming on ESPN+. Here is the full schedule:
Game 1:
Thursday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. ETGame 2:
Sunday, June 4, 8 p.m. ETGame 3:
Wednesday, June 7, 8:30 p.m. ETGame 4:
Friday, June 9, 8:30 p.m. ETGame 5:
Monday, June 12, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)Game 6:
Thursday, June 15, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)Game 7:
Sunday, June 18, 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)Key Matchups
Nikola Jokic vs. Bam Adebayo
Jokic is the most important player for the Nuggets, and Adebayo is the most important player for the Heat. The two players will likely match up against each other for a lot of the series. While Jokic is the better scorer and passer, Adebayo is the better defender and rebounder.
Jimmy Butler vs. Michael Porter Jr.
Butler has been the Heat’s best player in the playoffs, while Porter Jr. has emerged as a key player for the Nuggets. Porter Jr. has shown flashes of the “6’10” Klay Thompson” comp he received, and Butler will need to slow him down if the Heat want to win.
Predictions
Most sports publications and analysts predict that the Nuggets will win the NBA Finals. Sporting News has six of its seven writers picking the Nuggets to win the series in either six or seven games. Sports Betting Dime also picks the Nuggets to win the series.
Conclusion
The 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat promises to be an exciting series. Led by Jokic and Butler, these two teams have overcome tough opponents to make it this far. While the Nuggets are the favorites to win, the Heat have shown that they are a tough team to beat. It will be interesting to see how this matchup plays out.
FAQs
Q1: When do the 2023 NBA Finals take place?
The 2023 NBA Finals take place from June 1 to June 18.
Q2: What TV network will air the NBA Finals?
All Finals games will air nationally on ABC.
Q3: Where can I stream the NBA Finals online?
Fans can stream each Finals game on ESPN+ and WatchESPN.
Q4: Who has home court in the 2023 NBA Finals?
The Nuggets (53-29) will have home-court advantage in the 2023 NBA Finals since they had a better regular season record than the Heat (44-38).
Q5: Who are the key players to watch in the NBA Finals?
The key players to watch in the NBA Finals are Nikola Jokic for the Nuggets, Bam Adebayo for the Heat, and Jimmy Butler for the Heat.
