NBA finals Game 1: Miami Heat v Denver Nuggets – live

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Heat 60-81 Nuggets, 1:41, 3rd quarter

An exhausted Adebayo is subbed in by Cody Zeller. Brown hits a jumper and now it’s a 21-point Nuggets lead.

At this rate, the fourth quarter is going to look like the third act of “The Day After” for the Heat.

Heat 60-79 Nuggets, 2:51, 3rd quarter

Murray finds Porter Jr for a basket. Bruce Brown hits a three-pointer. Both are assisted by Murray, who can do more than score. (Yes I am already working on his MVP case this early. Have to lay the foundation.)

19-point lead for Denver. Miami calls a timeout.

Heat 60-74 Nuggets, 3:52, 3rd quarter

There’s the Caleb Martin we saw during the Celtics series. He hits a desperately needed three for Miami.

Heat 57-74 Nuggets, 4:26, 3rd quarter

Adebayo is the entirety of the Heat offense and he scores but Miami will need a whole lotta stops and some scoring from someone else very soon.

Heat 55-74 Nuggets, 5:39, 3rd quarter

Neither team comes out of the timeout looking good until Caldwell-Pope hits a three-pointer and wow does this feel over right now.

But please please please keep reading!

Heat 55-71 Nuggets, 6:12, 3rd quarter

Adebayo continues trying to carry the entire offensive load here, driving to the basket for the dunk. On the other end, Jokić gets fouled and makes… just 1-of-2 free throws. That’s basically a win for Miami.

Jimmy Butler tips in an Adebayo shot but on the other end Jokić hits a three-point shot. There’s a timeout and… it’s the Nuggets and not the Heat. Which seems weird, but whatever I’ll roll with it.

Heat 51-67 Nuggets, 7:44, 3rd quarter

Gordon blocks another Strus three-point attempt. Porter Jr gets off on a Denver fast break and gets fouled at the basket for more Nuggets free throws.

He makes both.

Heat 51-65 Nuggets, 7:54, 3rd quarter

Butler with a dunk. Playoff Jimmy is going to have to emerge this half, because Adebayo isn’t going to be able to make up this deficit by himself.

Heat 49-65 Nuggets, 8:37, 3rd quarter

Strus with yet another miss. 5-for-20 from the three-point range now.

Meanwhile, Murray drives to the basket, hits a floater, and picks up a foul. He makes the free throw, the foul is on Martin.

Heat 49-62 Nuggets, 9:47, 3rd quarter

Caleb Martin is ice cold here, missing another shot. Where was this guy in Game 7?

Heat 49-62 Nuggets, 9:47, 3rd quarter

Murray, the fire extinguisher, makes a layup and gets fouled by Butler. On the line, he makes the free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play.

Heat 49-59 Nuggets, 10:32, 3rd quarter

And a Gabe Vincent three-pointer! Miami making this interesting? Just a ten-point game again.

Start of the second half

Heat 46-59 Nuggets, 11:14, 3rd quarter

Well, those were some quick adjustments, Adebayo scores twice out of halftime. He’s carrying Miami right now.

Once again: Murray is going to be the MVP of these Finals. I feel very good about this prediction.

My improv teacher is a recent basketball convert so I’ve asked for her permission to share her thoughts throughout these Finals, although she is (like the rest of this city) still recovering from the brutal end of the Celtics season earlier this week:

I want to correct myself: Max Strus is not 0-for-7 from the three-point line. He’s 0-for-7 with field goals, only six of them were three-point attempts.

This, however, will lead us to the major reason that the Nuggets have a 17-point lead right now: Denver’s three-point percentage? 45.5%. Miami’s? 23.5% The regression to the mean could be happening.

Halftime thoughts

Well, unfortunately, this is exactly how I expected the Denver Nuggets, after nine days of rest, playing its first home game ever in an NBA Finals, to treat a Miami Heat team that just went seven games against a Boston Celtics team determined to sabotage itself.

The Nuggets are playing free and easy and the Heat offense looks… well like it did during the regular season, particularly from the three-point line.

End of the first half!

Heat 42-59 Nuggets, end of the first half

And Murray scores one more time for Denver. So much for Miami cutting down that lead.

Heat 42-57 Nuggets, 20.4, 2nd quarter

Max Strus misses another three-pointer, he’s 0-for-7. So much for being my X-factor. Murray scores, Adebayo (who has been Miami’s best player so far) answers, but Murray rains down a three-pointer and this one feels like it’s already out of hand.

Heat 40-52 Nuggets, 1:49, 2nd quarter

Jokić is a great passer, however, which he shows again with a bounce pass to Gordon to increase the Denver lead.

Gabe Vincent hits a Heat three-pointer, they desperately need to cut this down before halftime.

Heat 37-50 Nuggets, 3:21, 2nd quarter

The refs are letting the players play, which I don’t mind. Jokić doesn’t get called for contact with Duncan Robinson.

He then gets inside for a basket, an obnoxious three-foot pop-up of a shot that is the basketball equivalent of an excuse-me check swing grounder that squeezes through the infield for an entirely unearned single.

I do not like this man’s offensive game from an aesthetic standpoint, but can’t say it doesn’t work. Nuggets have 50 points, the Heat take a timeout.

Heat 37-48 Nuggets, 4:47, 2nd quarter

Jokić picks up a foul on Highsmith and adds to Denver’s lead with two made free throws.

Heat 37-46 Nuggets, 5:30, 2nd quarter

The Heat and Nuggets exchange a few baskets before Bruce Brown manages to give Denver some additional cushion with a three-pointer off the bench.

Heat 33-41 Nuggets, 6:33, 2nd quarter

Lowry hits a floater to cut the Denver lead down to six points. Briefly. Then comes Michael Porter Jr who gets his revenge with a dunk.

Heat 31-39 Nuggets, 7:18, 2nd quarter

Porter Jr hits another dunk, Bam Adebayo scores twice. On the second play, Porter Jr hits the ground hard and seems shaken up. The crowd wants a foul on Adebayo, but they don’t get one. Denver takes a timeout.

Heat 27-37 Nuggets, 8:42, 2nd quarter

And now for some role player action. Duncan Robinson makes a three-pointer and the venerable Jeff Green makes a short jumper in response.

Heat 24-35 Nuggets, 9:21, 2nd quarter

Highsmith hits a two. Michael Porter Jr adds a three-pointer to go with his two blocks, how’s that for some good ol’ 3-and-D?

Heat 22-32 Nuggets, 10:31, 2nd quarter

And Jamal Murray hits a monster three to get it back and more. Ten-point game.

Heat 22-29 Nuggets, 10:54, 2nd quarter

A foul on Denver’s Christian Braun puts Haywood Highsmith on the line for two free throws, which he makes to cut into the Denver lead.

Heat 20-29 Nuggets, 11:22, 2nd quarter

The start of the second quarter starts with neither team scoring, which I don’t mind as it gives me time to change the heading real quick.

Here’s the thing: it almost doesn’t matter how often Jokić scores:

Heat 20-29 Nuggets, end of the 1st quarter

Jokić helps lay in an Aaron Gordon pass for his first field goal of the game. Chances are, it won’t be his last. The Nuggets are in control after one.

Heat 20-27 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 27.0

The defense is sharper out of the timeout, or maybe it’s just that Butler’s shot is a little off to start the series, but the Nuggets can’t seem to score

Heat 20-27 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 1:59

Heat score twice, including a three-pointer, when the Nuggets score just once and that’s more than enough for Malone to call a timeout.

Denver’s offense has been smoking but they may need a little more focus on the defensive end after that flurry of scoring.

Heat 16-24 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 3:29

Gordon is on fire he his a three that gets the crowd fired up… until an Adebayo jumper quickly silences them.

But Murray answers with a dunk.

Heat 14-20 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 4:39

Michael Porter Jr with a huge block on Caleb Martin, but Cantavious-Pope can’t score for Denver.

Vincent hits a three-pointer for Miami. Murray dunks for Denver. Gordon gets another layup.

Heat 11-16 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 5:35

Jamal Murray picks up a foul trying to stop Butler after his own turnover. When the possession resumes, Adebayo dunks but Murray makes up for his mistake with a basket on the other end.

Well, right now something about the Heat is off, so it’s not quite appropriate. I will link to this classic of modern music when appropriate.

Heat 9-14 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 6:34

Miami’s Gabe Vincent counters with a jumper on his own, but it’s all Denver from here on out. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Gordon (again) score and Miami has to take a very early timeout.

This was about how I expected this game to start.

Heat 7-10 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 7:41

After that flurry of scoring, the defense on both ends picks up until Gordon breaks things up with a layup.

Heat 7-8 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 8:56

Butler makes a three-pointer, Gordon answers with a dunk, Bam Adebayo scores and then picks up a foul that will put Nikola Jokić on the line for two. He gets both.

Heat 2-4 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 9:45

Jimmy Butler, who else, gets the scoring going for Miami with a jumper. Aaron Gordon answers for Denver.

Heat 0-2 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 11:28

Miami’s Jamal Murray scores first!

Opening tip

Heat 0-0 Nuggets, 1st quarter, 12:00

Denver head coach Michael Malone is shown giving a speech that is essentially don’t lose at home in Game 1 like those chumps in the Eastern Conference playoffs. As a Celtics fan, that hurts but I do not have an answer.

And we’re finally off! Real basketball!

I told you it wouldn’t be starting at 8:30 EST on the dot. I’ve done a lot of these.

This tweet is sponsored by SeatGeek.

National anthem

Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Night Sweats were the best Denver could get for Game 1? I mean, they are perfectly fine but I can’t wait until this series goes back to Miami. Higher celebrity wattage for sure. 5/10.

Nobody on the pregame show is picking the Heat. It feels like there just isn’t a way they can win this series but… again, we said that about the last three series!

It might come down to the whether or not the Denver Nuggets take Miami for granted and, honestly, the Nuggets are basically the anti-Celtics when it comes down to not playing down to the perceived level of their opponents.

Note, Celtics fans are not particularly enthused to hear more about the narratives surrounding this Heat run.

Predictions

As always, I’m rooting for a long series and compelling basketball, which means that I have no choice but to root for the Miami Heat here not to fall back to Earth after they overperformed during the Eastern Conference playoffs. If they manage to take Game 1 at home here, like they just did against the Boston Celtics (I have talked about this once and will not do so again), that could go a long way in making sure we get one.

It’s just hard to think that will happen, especially considering that the Nuggets have gotten around a week off to rest. It feels like this is Denver’s game to win rather easily, so let’s predict this will be Nuggets by double-digits, with bench players taking the floor in the game’s final minute or two. If Miami is going to split these two games on the road, which they probably need to do to have a chance at winning a championship here, look for them to win Game 2 but not this one.

If you have differing thoughts, feel free to send them here either via tweet (to @HunterFelt) or email ([email protected]) and we’ll include them here.

Miami Heat starting lineup

PG: Gabe Vincent

SG: Max Strus

SF: Jimmy Butler

PF: Caleb Martin

C: Bam Adebayo

Also: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is saying that there’s a chance Tyler Herro could be returning as soon as Sunday’s Game 2, which would be a huge boost to Miami’s chances.

Mladen Brdarski, left, and Marko Mandic from Serbia cheer Nikola Jokic during warm-ups before Game 1 of the NBA finals at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Photograph: Hyoung Chang/Denver Post/Getty ImagesDenver fans pose outside Ball Arena ahead of Game 1 of the NBA finals. Photograph: Bart Young/NBAE/Getty ImagesEmily Anderson, right, holds a sign she made with her partner Patty Jarzobski, left, for Thursday’s opening game of the NBA finals. Photograph: Hyoung Chang/Denver Post/Getty Images

Denver Nuggets starting lineup

PG: Jamal Murray

SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

SF: Michael Porter Jr

PF: Aaron Grdon

C: Nikola Jokić

NBA news

The last we heard about Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant was that he was suspended from team activities following footage that once again showed him dabbling in gunplay. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver commented about it earlier today and, well, the news sounds ominous for the controversial guard:

Preamble

Okay, okay, let’s get these jokes out of the way. “What, the Finals are Heat-Nuggets, and not Celtics-Lakers? I guess the writers’ strike must have affected the NBA.”

Yes let’s be honest: this is not the marquee matchup that, say, television executives or narcissistic livebloggers hoping for the largest possible audience were hoping to get. However, here’s the truth: that’s more of a problem for us in the media than it should be for fans of basketball as a sport.

The 2023 NBA Finals feature the best team in the league facing up against a team that has defied all logic to make it this far. We have Nikola Jokić, quite possibly the NBA’s best player, up against Jimmy Butler, who might be the NBA’s most unpredictable X-Factor. (I honestly am hesitant to even use the word “might” here, on both occasions.) We have an eighth-seeded Heat team with seven undrafted players somehow in the Finals facing a Nuggets team that has never even been this far in franchise history.

Of course, the one thing we don’t know is whether this series will give us the kind of drama we demand from a championship round. Certainly, nearly every single factor suggests that the Nuggets should be in control of this series, particularly since they have home-court advantage. The Heat, however, are a team that refuses to accept the reality of being underdogs. If there’s going to be one team to upend expectations, this Miami team would be it.

That’s enough speculation, it’s all up to the players from here on out. All we can do is watch and provide commentary from here on out. I do mean “we”: feel free to join the conversation either via email or Twitter. You can send an email to [email protected] or a tweet to @HunterFelt throughout today’s game and we’ll incorporate your thoughts throughout today’s contest.

It’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets in Denver’s Ball Arena. In theory, the opening tip will begin at 8:30 pm EST, it will probably be close to 8:40, but whenever it will be we’ll be back with additional commentary well before then.

Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime here are our writers’ predictions ahead of this year’s NBA finals between Denver and Miami.

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 at Nuggets, 8.30pm (ABC)

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