Jimmy Butler and the eighth-seeded Miami Heat face Nikola Jokic and the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals. The Nuggets are making their first Finals appearance, while the Heat will make their seventh franchise appearance and their first since the 2020 bubble season.
The Heat had just one off day following a thrilling seven-game series win over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals before taking the court in Denver tonight in Game 1. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have enjoyed more than a week of rest since sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest news, updates, analysis and more throughout Game 1. Follow along.
When is the first game of the NBA Finals?
The Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets tip off Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. The game is at Ball Arena in Denver.
Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules
NBA Finals referees: Eric Lewis not included
Marc Davis, David Guthrie and Ed Malloy will officiate Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals.
Here are all the officials who are assigned to work the Finals: Tony Brothers (12th Finals), Courtney Kirkland (third), Marc Davis (12th), Ed Malloy (eighth), Scott Foster (16th), Kevin Scott (first), John Goble (seventh), Josh Tiven (fourth), David Guthrie (sixth), James Williams (third), Bill Kennedy (fifth) and Zach Zarba (10th).
Notably missing from the group is 19-year veteran referee Eric Lewis, who is currently under investigation for the potential use of a burner Twitter account to defend himself and other officials. Based on previous experience and playoff grades, Lewis would have otherwise made the cut, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets do have a history
Jimmy Butler says there isn’t any bad blood between the Heat and Nuggets. “I don’t think that’s a rivalry. It sounds good. But I don’t even want to get into it. (Jokic) is a hell of a player,” Butler told Complex in February 2022.
But the Nuggets and Heat were involved in an altercation on Nov. 8, 2021, that resulted in a suspension for Jokic and a fine for Butler. Jokic shoved Markieff Morris (who’s now on the Dallas Mavericks) from behind following a hard foul from Morris. Heat players were upset at what they perceived to be a cheap shot from Jokic and Butler could be seen telling Jokic to “bring your (expletive) to the back.” A viral photo showed Butler, Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo lined up outside the Nuggets locker room postgame.
Jokic was ejected from the game and received a one-game suspension. Morris received a flagrant foul, $50,000 fine for his role and subsequently missed 58 games with whiplash. Butler received a technical foul and $30,000 fine “for attempting to escalate the altercation and failing to comply with an NBA Security interview as part of the review process pertaining to an on-court matter,” the league said. But it appears to be water under the bridge.
“I don’t think it has too much to do with anything, this thing in the past,” Butler said Wednesday. “It’s high-level competition. But I will say I wasn’t talking to Jokic. That wasn’t my beef. Make sure you write that.”
Said Denver coach Michael Malone: “It hasn’t come up in any of my thoughts, discussions, narratives. That’s a question probably more suited for the Miami Heat. For us, all we’re worried about is winning Game 1. That’s our sole focus. None of the storylines that accompany this series are going to distract us from that focus.” — Cydney Henderson and Jeff Zillgitt
Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat regular season
The Nuggets won both matchups against the Heat during the regular season, once at home in Denver’s Ball Arena and on the road in Miami’s Kaseya Center.
On Dec. 30, Denver defeated Miami 124-119. Jokic recorded a triple-double (19 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists) while Butler scored 17 points, dished out eight assists and nabbed four steals. Their second meeting was on Feb. 13, when the Nuggets won 112-108. Jokic put up a double-double (27 points, 12 rebounds) while tallying eight assists. Butler recorded his own double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) and neared a triple-double with nine assists.
Miami hasn’t won a game in Denver since 2016 — which is also the last season Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were Nuggets reserves. Denver is 11-3 against Miami in the past seven seasons, including a six-game winning streak over the past three seasons.
NBA Finals schedule 2023
Here is the full schedule:
- Game 1: Nuggets vs. Heat | Thursday, June 1 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Game 2: Nuggets vs. Heat | Sunday, June 4 | 8 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Game 3: Heat vs. Nuggets | Wednesday, June 7 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Game 4: Heat vs. Nuggets | Friday, June 9 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Game 5: Nuggets vs. Heat | Monday, June 12 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) *
- Game 6: Heat vs. Nuggets | Thursday, June 15 | 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) *
- Game 7: Nuggets vs. Heat | Sunday, June 18 | 8 p.m. ET (ABC) *
- *if necessary
Miami vs. Denver: Game 1 odds
Tipico Sportsbook has the spread favoring Denver by 8.5 points over Miami. They have the moneyline for Miami set at +310 and for Denver set at –380. They have the over/under for total points set at 218.5.
Who is favored to win the NBA Finals?
FanDuel Sportsbook favors the Nuggets to win their first NBA championship over the Heat. — Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press
Past NBA champions by year
Here are the NBA champions of the last 25 years:
- 2022: Golden State Warriors
- 2021: Milwaukee Bucks
- 2020: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2019: Toronto Raptors
- 2018: Golden State Warriors
- 2017: Golden State Warriors
- 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2015: Golden State Warriors
- 2014: San Antonio Spurs
- 2013: Miami Heat
- 2012: Miami Heat
- 2011: Dallas Mavericks
- 2010: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2009: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008: Boston Celtics
- 2007: San Antonio Spurs
- 2006: Miami Heat
- 2005: San Antonio Spurs
- 2004: Detroit Pistons
- 2003: San Antonio Spurs
- 2002: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2001: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1999: San Antonio Spurs
- 1998: Chicago Bulls
