The Denver Nuggets can push the Miami Heat closer to the edge with a win this Saturday in Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals. Of course, that is going to be easier said than done, with the Heat’s sense of urgency now on a high.
Catch this game live on Saturday, June 10, at 8:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Denver Nuggets (2-1)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Jamal Murray
- SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- SF: Michael Porter Jr.
- PF: Aaron Gordon
- C: Nikola Jokic
There’s only so much the Heat can do to slow down Nikola Jokic, who burned Miami again in Denver’s 109-94 win in Game 3 Thursday. Jokic clobbered the Heat for a triple-double of 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists in 44 minutes in that contest. He only had four assists in Game 2, but he’s apparently got it all figured out again.
Meanwhile, Jamal Murray had a game-high 34 points to go with 10 dimes. The two-man play between Jokic and Murray has been nightmarish for Miami, as they are averaging 33.0 and 26.0 points in the NBA Finals, respectively, with each shooting over 50 FG%. And don’t look now, but the Nuggets might have just another gear going for them, with Christian Braun scoring 15 points in Game 3. Denver will enter Game 4 with a 4-0 ATS record in their last four games on the road.
Home: Miami Heat (1-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Gabe Vincent
- SG: Max Strus
- SF: Jimmy Butler
- PF: Kevin Love
- C: Bam Adebayo
It’s back to the drawing board for the Heat after Game 3. But even after a demoralizing loss, the Heat can always be counted on to punch back hard because they would not have gone this far in the NBA Playoffs as a No. 8 seed if they were not an incredibly resilient squad. Their shots simply did not fall again in Game 3 just as it was in the series opener.
They shot 37 FG% and 31.4 3FG% in Game 3, with Gabe Vincent and Max Strus starting and combining for just 10 points on an atrocious 3/17 shooting from the floor. Miami only had four turnovers, though, plus they had 12 more attempts from the floor than the Nuggets. Those are good signs heading into Game 4 for the Heat, who are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games after just a day of rest.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Nuggets (-3.5) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (211.0) hits the Under.
