The Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets are both ready for Game 3 of the ongoing NBA Finals as both teams continue to put the finishing touches on their respective practices.
Nuggets took game 1 at the Ball Arena but for Game 2, Erik Spoelstra’s adjustments seemed effective as the Heat edged past Denver on their homecourt to even the series.
Heat forward Jimmy Butler revealed he is finally excited to play a Finals game in Miami and has urged his teammates to put on a show as they continue their fairytale postseason run. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, on the other hand, is confident his team will learn from the mistakes they made in Game 2 as they also continue their search for the first title in franchise history.
The series, which is currently tied at 1-1, will see the next two games played at Miami’s Kaseya Center, with the Heat hoping they can take advantage of their homecourt and return to Denver with a sizable lead.
What to Know
This will be the Heat’s ninth home game this playoff and they currently boost of a 6-2 win-loss record, having defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (twice), New York Knicks (thrice) and Boston Celtics (once) on home court.
They will also be without Tyler Herro, who has been ruled out for Game 3 once again. The 23-year-old guard has not featured for Spoelstra’s team since he broke his arm in Game 1 of their first-round tie against Bucks.
The Nuggets will be playing in their eighth away game this postseason having won four and lost three of the previous seven – they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (once), the Phoenix Suns (once) and the Los Angeles Lakers (twice).
For the Nuggets, it remains to be seen whether forward Aaron Gordon will suit up for Game 3 as he was reported “unwell’ after their Game 2 defeat despite playing 38 minutes.
Who to Watch Out For
Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat): Butler, who is playing in his second NBA Finals in four years, has been Miami’s hero during this their unfathomable postseason run.
He is averaging 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists across two games in the Finals so far, with averages of 27.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists across 19 games this playoff.
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets): The Serbian big man is the leading force behind the Nuggets team, averaging a triple-double this post-season.
He is averaging 34 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9 assists across two games in the Finals so far; while in the 17 games he has featured in this postseason, he is averaging 30.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.1 assists.
Head-to-Head
In the playoffs, the two teams have met just twice, with the score tied at 1-1, but they have played 72 times in the regular season. The Nuggets have won 38 times, while the Heat have come out on top 34 times.
In the two games they faced off during the 2022-23 regular season, the Nuggets won both, increasing their winning streak over the three-time champions to six, dating back to the 2020–21 season.
When is the game and how to watch
The Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Heat and the Nuggets will tip off at the Kaseya Center in the early hours of Thursday, June 8th at 1:30am (West African Time).
You can watch the game LIVE on the go for free from 1:00am (West African Time) on Afrosport TV on Free TV Channel 730 and via VIDIDU
