Final thoughts
Alright, that was an exciting finish and I am shocked as anybody that my prediction of the Heat winning a one-possession game actually came true. This is an extremely unusual event unlikely to be repeated.
We will continue to cover the NBA finals here at the Guardian until its conclusion, which means at least three more games after this. This, however, will end today’s live coverage of Game 2. Thanks to everybody who read along with us these last few hours including the one brave soul who actually wrote it. Ciao!
You can read a full report from tonight’s game here:
Updated
I said it over and over and over and over before the series. If the Heat shoot 50% from 3, they're going to win the series.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 5, 2023
48.6% but who’s counting? The Nuggets shot 39.3% and struggled in the fourth quarter and still had a chance to at least tie it at the buzzer. The Heat may be heading home for Wednesday’s Game 3 but they may have only made the Nuggets angry.
NBA Finals are tied 1-1!
The Miami Heat have done what no team has done this postseason: they have a stole game in Denver and we officially have a series!
Heat 111-108 Nuggets, FINAL
Butler misses a three-pointer. Can Denver tie… NO. Murray’s three-point attempt is no good!
The Heat have won in Denver, improbably!
Heat 111-108 Nuggets, 30.1, 4th quarter
Adebayo makes both free throws, but, BUT Jokić gets a friendly roll on the other end.
Heat 109-106 Nuggets, 48.1, 4th quarter
Murray with a three-pointer! Just a three-point Miami lead!
Adebayo gets fouled and goes to the line for free throws for Miami.
Heat 109-103 Nuggets, 1:26, 4th quarter
Butler hits a jumper. Brown hits a floater. Still a six-point game, but now the clock’s a factor.
Heat 107-101 Nuggets, 2:21, 4th quarter
Gordon and Murray with back-to-back three-pointers and that’s exactly what Denver needed. Just a six-point game!
Heat 107-95 Nuggets, 3:12, 4th quarter
Oh hey, there’s Caleb Martin. He also decided to get into the three party. The Nuggets need a big-time rally here.
Heat 104-95 Nuggets, 4:03, 4th quarter
Finally, a great defensive possession from Denver, as the Nuggets force an out-of-bounds turnover. On the other end, Jokić makes an easy basket, silky smooth, and Spoelstra calls a quick timeout to prevent the momentum from shifting.
Heat 104-93 Nuggets, 4:39, 4th quarter
Jokić is uncharacteristically sloppy here, throwing the ball out of bounds. On the next possession, Adebayo hits an emphatic dunk and picks up another foul. “The Heat have missed one shot this fourth quarter.”
Adebayo makes the free throw.
Heat 101-93 Nuggets, 5:14, 4th quarter
Jokić is in scoring mode here, which the Nuggets need. Murray finds him for a basket.
But then Caldwell-Pope picks up foul number five on a Lowry three-point attempt. Oof.
Lowry hits all three.
Heat 98-91 Nuggets, 5:57, 4th quarter
Butler with a three pointer! That’s how you make up for a turnover! Murray, who has had a rough game so far, hits a key basket here to cut the lead down.
But Butler drives to the basket, hits a floater and draws a foul from Gordon! Butler makes the free throw.
Heat 92-89 Nuggets, 7:14, 4th quarter
Butler turns it over and you know that Jokić was going to make him pay. Three-point game.
Heat 92-87 Nuggets, 8:03, 4th quarter
Adebayo makes up for the foul with a jumper. The Heat not missing shots this quarter.
Heat 90-87 Nuggets, 8:59, 4th quarter
Vincent picks up his fourth foul, it’s on Jokić but it’s not a shooting foul. No matter, Adebayo fouls him on the possession anyways, putting him on the line.
He (you’ll never believe this) makes both.
Heat 90-85 Nuggets, 9:17, 4th quarter
Jokić picks up his third foul. There’s zero chance he actually fouls out of a finals game, but something to look at.
Meanwhile, Vincent is now on the line for free throws after being fouled by Caldwell-Pope. He makes both. The crowd is not happy with the refs.
The Heat are now hitting over 50% from the three-point line. The Nuggets are hitting around 36%. That’s how Miami has gotten back in control here. Denver doesn’t need to hit more threes but they do need to stop giving the Heat these opportunities and looks.
Heat 88-85 Nuggets, 9:43, 4th quarter
Duncan Robinson makes a layup and a 10-0 run has given the Heat a three-point lead. Denver takes a TO.
Heat 86-85 Nuggets, 10:10, 4th quarter
Nuggets with a shot clock violation, which you very rarely see. On the other end, Vincent hits a three. Miami’s three-point shots are falling and that’s usually a sign that Heat’s offense is working like it should. Heat in front.
Meanwhile, here is what Jokić did in the third quarter. If the Nuggets hold on, this will be the reason why.
Look back at Joker's monster 3Q where he scored 18 of his 31 points 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) June 5, 2023
10:48 TO PLAY ON ABC!
DEN: 85
MIA: 83 pic.twitter.com/Q7Lj9Ubjkc
Heat 83-85 Nuggets, 10:48, 4th quarter
What got into Duncan Robinson? He makes a layup and a three-pointer and it’s now a two-point game?
Nuggets call a timeout. Wisely.
Heat 78-85 Nuggets, 11:20, 4th quarter
The venerable Jeff Green gets to the line and makes both of his free throws. He says he will never retire, Jeff Green. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps.
Heat 78-83 Nuggets, 11:40, 4th quarter
Duncan Robinson starts the scoring in the 4th quarter with a three-pointer.
Heat 75-83 Nuggets, end of the 3rd quarter
Jokić gets fouled and goes to the line, where he makes one of two free throws.
There’s no additional scoring, but The Joker has definitely made his presence known in the third.
Heat 75-82 Nuggets, 1:00, 3rd quarter
Brown forces a turnover and Jokić scores yet again. Yeah, he’s got a lot left in the tank.
Updated
Heat 75-80 Nuggets, 1:21, 3rd quarter
Lowry gets called for an offensive foul for a turnover and on the other end, there’s Jokić again. He scores and draws a foul.
Of course, he makes the free throw. If Miami’s goal was to tire him out it’s not paying dividends yet.
Heat 75-77 Nuggets, 1:50, 3rd quarter
Jokić scores a two-pointer. Lowry hits a three-pointer. It’s a three-point game again.
Heat 72-75 Nuggets, 2:51, 3rd quarter
Butler finds Zeller for a jumper!
Heat 70-75 Nuggets, 3:05, 3rd quarter
It suddenly feels like a rock fight. The Heat are disrupting and making the Nuggets actually work here, which might be the key to coming out here with a win.
Eventually Brown draws a foul to get on the line, maybe the best approach here against this Miami defense. He makes both free throws.
Heat 70-73 Nuggets, 4:04, 3rd quarter
Brown steals the ball and on the ensuing possession, Jokić scores.
But Adebayo answers.
Heat 68-71 Nuggets, 4:56, 3rd quarter
Caldwell-Pope gets charged with a foul that will put Butler on the line. If the Heat want to win, he’ll have to do this a few more times at least.
Butler makes both free throws.
Heat 66-71 Nuggets, 5:21, 3rd quarter
It’s very rare to see Jokić, I’m a fan. This is a version of him that I could come to appreciate. This is an “I Think You Should Leave” screenshot:
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 5, 2023
Heat 66-71 Nuggets, 5:21, 3rd quarter
Jokić loses the ball out of bounds. Or does he? It looks like another iffy call by these refs. The crowd is booing and Miami takes another timeout.
Heat 66-71 Nuggets, 5:40, 3rd quarter
Porter Jr hits a shot with the clock expiring to extend the Denver lead.
Heat 66-69 Nuggets, 6:16, 3rd quarter
Gordon picks up another foul, Miami thinks it’s flagrant but it feels like it’s more annoyance at that phantom call on Jokić.
And now neither side can score.
Heat 66-69 Nuggets, 7:49, 3rd quarter
Adebayo picks up his third foul on an extremely, extremely iffy call that gives Jokić three free throws (which he drains).
Cannot understand why Spoelstra did not challenge that.
Heat 66-66 Nuggets, 8:07, 3rd quarter
And Adebayo drives to the basket and ties it up.
Heat 64-66 Nuggets, 8:28, 3rd quarter
Vincent is now called for a foul on Gordon, who goes to the line. He misses both, however.
Heat 64-66 Nuggets, 8:45, 3rd quarter
Big swing here. Butler misses a layup on the ensuing Heat possession. On the other end, Murray unties the game with a jump shot.
Heat 64-64 Nuggets, 9:09, 3rd quarter
A foul on Jokić making a play on Adebayo, which looks like it should be a clear path foul on an uncatchable ball. The officials talk it out and decide it was, meaning that it’s two free throws and the Heat will maintain possession.
Abebayo makes both free throws to tie things up.
Okay, the Nuggets desperately need to shore up their defense, that’s the key to everything they do. I’m guessing Malone is saying words to this effect but in more specific terms than me but that’s the probable gist.
Heat 62-64 Nuggets, 9:21, 3rd quarter
That was a lot of scoring! Strus finds Adebayo for the Heat. Jokić responds in kind.
Love its a three-pointer. Jokić responds in kind.
It’s a stalemate until Vincent hits another three for Miami and that forces Denver to take an early timeout. Two point game!
Start of the second half!
Heat 54-59 Nuggets, 11:14, 3rd quarter
Vincent starts the second half with a three-pointer for the Heat. Caldwell-Pope lobs a pass to Gordon for a dunk.
More of that important Tyler Herro fashion statement content you were looking for:
Portrait of Man in Red Sweater, artist unknown, 20th century pic.twitter.com/FUp6CBc1Mx
— ArtButMakeItSports (@ArtButSports) June 5, 2023
Although he cooled off, Strus still has the most points of any player in the first half with 14, just a reminder about why a solid three-point shot can take you far in the NBA. Just a few years back, Strus was an unheralded role player who the Boston Celtics decided to cut because they didn’t have room for him as a two-way player.
I’m sure the Eastern Conference Finals were particularly satisfying for him.
Email from David Howell with the subject line “The Nuggets look inevitable at home here”:
...but it strikes me that they should look inevitable at home, with the altitude familiarity. Could it be argued that, with the theoretically biggest home-court advantage in the NBA, the Nuggets have historically underachieved to never even win their conference before this year?
I am not going that far and I am hesitant to give too much credit to their home-court advantage being that overwhelming due to the altitude (although I accept that it exists).
Will this become a different series when the Heat are at home? I expect that to be the case, but it’s also possible that the Nuggets just keep on doing that. We’ll at least get two games in Miami to test that out.
Stay tuned.
Halftime thoughts
This at least feels like a very different game from Game 1, even if Denver has a lead and is definitely looking like the better team. The Heat have discovered something and, most importantly, they’re not being rattled. They know the Nuggets are going to go on runs, they have to weather them and fight back.
Both teams have had double-digit leads in this game and the outcome is very much in the air. This, in other words, shaping up to be an actually competitive game. After Game 1, we deserve one.
End of the first half!
Heat 51-57 Nuggets, end of the first half
Butler hits a shot. Jokić finds Gordon for an alley-oop, just an extremely impossible assist for Nikola.
In the final seconds, Adebayo cuts the lead down to six. It could have been better for Miami, it could have been worse.
Heat 47-55 Nuggets, 55.1, 2nd quarter
Ooh, Love almost made this super-interesting with a three that was off the mark.
Instead, Vincent fouls Caldwell-Pope at the three-point line. Potentially huge swing for Denver here at the end of the first half.
He makes all three.
Heat 47-52 Nuggets, 1:44, 2nd quarter
Butler makes a layup and the Heat are chipping away. Could we be getting… a competitive game?
Vincent with a jumper! It’s a five-point game! This is super-fun!
Heat 43-52 Nuggets, 3:04, 2nd quarter
Adebayo blocks Jokić but it’s to no avail as he snags the rebound and scores anyways.
Heat 43-50 Nuggets, 3:47, 2nd quarter
Vincent makes the free throw. If that was an attempt to play “freeze the kicker” on Malone’s part, it did not work.
Caldwell-Pope fouls Strus on a no-chance three-point attempt. Strus only makes 2-of-3 so that could have been worse for Denver.
Heat 40-50 Nuggets, 4:08, 2nd quarter
Kevin Love makes a stepback jump shot. Vincent gets fouled on a made basket, but Denver calls for a timeout before he attempts the free throw.
Heat 35-50 Nuggets, 5:02, 2nd quarter
The Heat get called for their fifth turnover. On the other end, Brown scores. So it goes with the Heat, everything that was going right for them in the first 10 minutes of the game is no longer happening.
Heat 35-48 Nuggets, 5:47, 2nd quarter
Christian Braun, who I only can refer to by his full Christian name, catches a Murray pass and dunks it with a flourish.
Heat 35-46 Nuggets, 7:05, 2nd quarter
I gave the Nuggets two extra points in these last two updates, but it’s okay because Jeff Green makes up for it by making two free throws after Butler hits a three to cut it close.
Heat 32-44 Nuggets, 7:49, 2nd quarter
this is so validating as someone who had to watch these guys put my favorite team in the torture chamber for 4 games
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) June 5, 2023
Meanwhile, I can confirm that at least one Celtics fan is looking at Miami and going “this is the team that beat us three straight games to start the ECF?” His name is me.
Updated
Heat 32-44 Nuggets, 7:49, 2nd quarter
Gabe Vincent calms things down with a three. Unfortunately, a deflected Lowry pass leads to a dunk by Jamal Murray, who is also fouled on the play.
Obviously, he makes the free throw to complete the three-point play. Then he hits yet another shot to force another Miami timeout. It’s a 12-point Denver lead.
Updated
Heat 29-39 Nuggets, 9:01, 2nd quarter
Christian Braun with a corner three! Denver’s lead is into double digits just like that!
Heat 29-36 Nuggets, 9:57, 2nd quarter
There’s a chance we might have a Jeff Green Podium Game which is a long-time NBA postseason tradition.
Back from the timeout, Brown intercepts a bad Adebayo pass and Murray makes his first three-pointer of the game. The boat is starting to get leaky.
Heat 29-33 Nuggets, 10:12, 2nd quarter
Kyle Lowry hits a three for the Heat. So much for the Denver lead.
Nevermind, Brown hits a three-pointer and then Green hits a three-pointer. Ball Arena gets loud and Spoelstra is forced to call yet another timeout.
Heat 26-27 Nuggets, 11:04, 2nd quarter
Haywood Highsmith fouls old man Jeff Green when he’s trying to score, he makes both of his free throws and the Nuggets now have a lead after all that hard work from the Heat.
Heat 26-25 Nuggets, 11:17, 2nd quarter
Jamal Murray, who has not scored yet, instead dishes out an assist to Braun who cuts the Heat lead down one.
Again, bad news for the Heat because Murray is going to score eventually.
Heat 26-23 Nuggets, 12:00, 2nd quarter
Bam Adebayo is back on the court at the start of the second quarter and clearly the Miami defense needs him.
That is very ominous for Miami, they emptied out the tank in the first quarter while the Nuggets just methodically cut the lead down to three without really seeming to try. Which is just WHAT THEY DO. Just one of the most frustrating teams in recent NBA history, they are the Borg. They are just inevitable.
Heat 26-23 Nuggets, end of the 1st quarter
Jokić scores again and it’s just a five-point game even though it feels like the Heat should have a larger lead.
And there it is, Christian Braun makes a layup and it’s just a one-possession game at the end of the first quarter.
Heat 26-19 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 1:48
Duncan Robinson Jr comes in for Strus and is immediately called for a foul. Jokić makes a mid-ranger but Miami’s Cody Zeller, just in the game, responds with a basket of his own.
Oh, all the role players are chipping in on both sides, Denver’s Bruce Brown scores close to the basket, Denver hangs in.
Heat 24-15 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 3:01
ARE YOU SERIOUS? STRUS AGAIN! HOW? He’s 4-for-7 from long distance now.
Heat 21-15 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 3:39
Max Strus shaking off his horrid Game 1 has been the story of Game 1. Maybe he will be the X-factor of this series like I predicted before the finals began.
Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr hits a three-pointer to a big-time cheer.
Heat 21-12 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 4:24
Jokić, who was basically a facilitator in Game 1 despite his points total, hits a jumper and Denver definitely needs that sort of offensive aggression from him in this situation.
At this, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra takes a timeout: he knows that the Nuggets can get on a roll in a blink and that it all starts with the Big Guy.
Heat 21-10 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 4:36
Butler gets his own rebound after a Caldwell-Pope block and makes another basket. The Heat have approached this first quarter like it’s an elimination game, which it kind of feels like it is.
Heat 19-10 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 5:13
Jokić hits the calmest three-pointer you’ve ever seen, true to form. Unfortunately for Denver, Strus responds with another. He’s 3-for-4. He clearly has put Game 1 in the back rearview mirror (which, again, you should not remove from your vehicle).
Heat 16-7 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 6:12
Jimmy Butler gets fouled and goes to the line, which he basically didn’t do at all in Game 1. He makes both free throws to extend the Heat lead. Adebayo adds to it with a jumper.
Heat 12-7 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 7:14
Bam Adebayo hits his first basket of the night in exchange, but Jokić finds Aaron Gordon for an alley-oop dunk!
Okay, this is more like it.
Heat 10-5 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 7:40
Out of the timeout, a backcourt violation and a turnover. Luckily for Denver, Miami can’t score on the turnover. But neither can Denver.
The two teams go back and forth without scoring. It looks like Michael Porter Jr scores but it’s wiped away on a charge call.
However, Miami can’t score again and now Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hits a three-pointer that gets the crowd fired up.
Updated
Heat 10-2 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 9:13
Miami’s Gabe Vincent hits a jumper, Nikola Jokić makes a layup to let the Denver crowd sit down… but Strus hits another three and wow that’s a very early Malone timeout. He does like how Denver is playing defense and wants to make sure this doesn’t get out of hand quickly.
Heat 5-0 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 10:00
Jimmy Butler finds Gabe Vincent for a basket and Miami gets the first two baskets of the game.
Heat 3-0 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 10:58
Miami’s Max Strus hits a three-pointer right away after going O-for on the line in Game 1.
Opening tip
Heat 0-0 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 12:00
And we have basketball!
This performance was like catnip for us NBA writers:
A vote to put @HaroldRappIII permanently in charge of the national anthem
— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) June 5, 2023
National Anthem
Harold Rapp III with a smooth jazz saxophone take on “The Star Spangled Banner.” Longtime readers will know that I have a huge soft spot for instrumental versions of the anthem (with an affinity for jazz) so this is an easy 7/10 for me. (I would have preferred something more free jazz-y, but maybe it’s not quite the right atmosphere for that.)
Unexpectedly, we have a Game 2 news dump via the Boston Celtics. It looks like Joe Mazzulla is getting some experienced veteran help with experience in Boston: Sam Cassell. A great fit!
Sam Cassell has agreed to join the Boston Celtics coaching staff under Joe Mazzulla, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2023
I somehow forgot the greatest Jimmy Butler anecdote ever. You have a few minutes before Opening Tip, I strongly recommend reading this story (and also DO NOT DO THIS).
This is why Jimmy Butler is destined to coach: the time he took out the rear view mirrors on his car in order to remind himself to "never look back." https://t.co/h1JstwTMyV
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) August 5, 2020
Tyler Herro is not playing in Game 2, but he’s already conjuring up some 90’s alt-rock memories with his getup.
is he related to the new radicals guy https://t.co/ql50Bq7tQw pic.twitter.com/j5qffT4YLV
— bring on the dancing horses (@inthefade) June 4, 2023
Predictions
I have predicted the Nuggets in 6 which means… well they have to lose at least two games here. It feels like, to me, for the series to progress even that far, Miami has to win this Game 2. So, I’m guessing they manage a one or two-point victory on the back of a classic Playoff Jimmy performance where he puts up something ridiculous like 40+ points.
Am I at all confident about this? ABSOLUTELY NOT! If you think you predict a more likely outcome (and it might not be difficult in this situation) you can send your thoughts to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt. Until then, legendary comedian Dana Carvey gave his in verse earlier today on Twitter (it does not quite go to the tune of “Choppin’ Broccoli”):
Who will win game 2 of tonight’s NBA finals?
— Dana Carvey (@danacarvey) June 4, 2023
A Poem:
How’s this for a tasty morsel if you can take the Heat.
But Nuggets of wisdom ordinarily can’t be beat.
Strive to survive and stay alive.
Slam Bam Thank You Ma’am.
The Joker awaits.
- Dana Carvey
Miami Heat starting lineup
PG: Gabe Vincent
SG: Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Kevin Love
C: Bam Adebayo
Again, the only change seems to be swapping Martin for Love. Love is 34 years old and not quite the All-Star he once was, but he’s still one of those veteran players who are always a threat to have a huge finals game. He is also the only player on either side with Beach Boys DNA.
Denver Nuggets starting lineup
PG: Jamal Murray
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Michael Porter Jr
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokić
Apparently, the Nuggets haven’t changed up the starting lineup from Game 1 and why would they, honestly?
Health news
There was some speculation that Tyler Herro would be available to play today for the Heat, but it looks like if he does play in this series it will be when it shifts to Miami. Meanwhile, the Heat did say that Caleb Martin will be available to play after missing practice yesterday with an illness, although Kevin Love will reportedly be starting in his absence.
It’s not the ideal situation but considering how little they got from Martin, maybe switching it up could end up paying dividends.
Heat's Tyler Herro sits out Game 2 of NBA Finals, as return target shifts to Wednesday. https://t.co/Xt3tXBt8ux Decision allows for three more days before possible Game 3 return from hand rehab.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) June 4, 2023
Preamble
Well, Game 1 ended up going pretty much exactly how the analysts assumed it would go. The well-rested Denver Nuggets crushed the Miami Heat 104-93, despite the fact that their coach thought they could play better. As Michael Malone pointed out, his team did let up a bit in the fourth quarter, making the final score seem more respectable for the Heat than it actually was while giving them some life heading into today’s Game 2.
No matter what, the Heat are going to have to play a lot better to win this game to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole (something which will probably determine how long this series lasts). Whether it was Denver’s defense or Miami simply regressing to the mean after their Eastern Conference playoffs run, the Heat’s offense sputtered for most of Game 1. Their star player Jimmy Butler scored just 13 points while Boston-killer Caleb Martin and Max Strus fell back to Earth, combined to go 1-for-17.
It sounds bad, but we’ve been counting out the Heat at our own peril all postseason long. Can they do it one more time against Denver’s Nikola Jokić, who is already putting up finals numbers that rival those of some of the game’s all-time greats? If he and Jamal Murray are in sync, it might not matter what adjustments the Heat make.
Ok, it took exactly 1 #NBAFinals game for:
— Andrés Alvarez (@NerdNumbers) June 2, 2023
1. Nikola Jokic to put up a record - most assists in a finals debut.
2. Jokic to put up a stat line only LeBron James has done.
3. Jokic and Murray to do something only Magic and Worthy, both Finals MVPs, have done.
So ... yeah. https://t.co/h32eJXTBhY
As always, we at the Guardian welcome your comments throughout this live blog. You can either send them via email to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt, we’ll use them throughout the game. The way I look at it, the world is my color commentator.
It’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Opening tip is scheduled to start at 8:00 pm EST, but keep your eyes here as we will be back with opening lineups, predictions and other such things.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how the Nuggets went up 1-0 after the series opener:
Maybe it was the thin air. Perhaps it was fatigue in their 21st game since the end of the regular season. Or just an inevitable reversion towards normality for the postseason’s greatest overachievers.
Whatever it was, it was quickly clear that anyone tuning in to the first game of the NBA finals on Thursday in the hope of witnessing a stirring mountain tale starring a brave band of odds-defying underdogs should have switched off the game and streamed The Sound of Music instead.
The most flagrant cause of the wide margin of victory was the Miami Heat’s failure to rack up enough points from distance, especially from open looks early in the game.
You can read the full report below:
How to watch the NBA finals
Every game of the NBA finals will air in the US on broadcast TV (ABC), live stream (ESPN3) and on NBA League Pass. Additionally, Game 1 will be simulcast on ESPN+.
UK viewers can watch on Sky Sports or NBA League Pass. Australian viewers can stream on Kayo Sports via ESPN and additionally through NBA League Pass.
Best-of-seven series. All times EDT.
Thu 1 Jun Game 1: Heat 93-104 Nuggets. The outmatched Heat had no answer to Jokic and the Nuggets.
Sun 4 Jun Game 2: Heat at Nuggets, 8pm (ABC)
Wed 7 Jun Game 3: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC)
Fri 9 Jun Game 4: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC)
Mon 12 Jun Game 5: Heat at Nuggets, 8.30pm (ABC) *
Thu 15 Jun Game 6: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) *
Sun 18 Jun Game 7: Heat at Nuggets, 8pm (ABC) *
* if necessary
