Image copyright: Getty Images
Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat
2022-23 NBA Finals
Game 1
Friday, 2 June 2023
Ball Arena
Denver, Colorado
Tip-off at 02:30
The Miami Heat are considered underdogs in their quest to win a fourth championship when they go up against the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the
NBA Finals at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on the morning of Friday, June 2.
The Heat beat the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals to lift the title for the seventh time, becoming only the second franchise to reach the NBA Finals as eighth seeds after the New York Knicks achieved the feat in 1999.
Not many gave Erik Spoelstra's team a chance after they lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first game of the play-in tournament but they've gone 13-6 since then, dispatching the Milwaukee Bucks, the Knicks and the Celtics in the playoffs.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Miami were on the verge of sweeping Boston in four games but were eventually taken to Game 7, where Jimmy Butler excelled once more after scoring 28 points to help secure a 103-84 victory.
Butler is enjoying a fine post-season, averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists, while shooting 48.3 per cent from the field.
The Heat Forward was adamant they would "get it done" this season following their loss to the Celtics in Game 7 of Eastern Conference Finals last year, and Spoelstra praised his ability to lift his team-mates.
Image copyright: Getty Images
"You have to have a guy that you can hold on to, particularly in those moments of truth," the Miami head coach said. "I've said this before, there's no way to quantify the confidence that he can instill in everybody."
Spoelstra insists they have only grown stronger in the face of adversity and believes anything is possible in the NBA Finals.
"Life is hard. Professional sports is just kind of a reflection sometimes of life, that things don't always go your way," he added. "The inevitable setbacks happen, and it's how you deal with that collectively.
"There's a lot of different ways that it can go. It can sap your spirit. It can take a team down for whatever reason. With this group, it's steeled us and made us closer and made us tougher."
Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat - Head-to-head, Regular Season
Games played: 72
Nuggets wins: 38
Heat wins: 34
Bet on Basketball
With the latest betting odds and the most up-to-date markets, betting on basketball has never been so easy. Sign up now and start winning with Betway!
Shoot some hoops with Basketball Star!
Discover Zambia’s most popular online casino games in between games!
This exciting 243 Way game boasts a star-studded line-up of features and brings the ever-popular Rolling Reels™ back out onto the court.
Get ready to feel the electric atmosphere of an all-star match with the Wild Shot feature. This Base Game feature, set to become a fan favourite, randomly turns up to 2 Reels Wild, awarding a guaranteed win! Play Basketball Star Online Slot for free or real money!
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.