The NBA Finals are tied 1-1 after a dramatic comeback as Miami Heat evened up the series with a 111-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. After that resilient showing, are the Nuggets still the favorite to beat The Heat?
The two teams are now set to face off in Miami on Wednesday for game 3.
Who will take the lead in the highly anticipated third contest?
Be A Better Bettor will look back at game 2 and assess the state of play heading into Wednesday’s game. We’ll also provide you with our best free NBA betting picks to see if we can earn you some extra cash.
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Denver Nuggets Vs Miami Heat Game 3 information
- Game Day: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
- Game Time: 8:30 PM ET
- Location: Miami, Florida
- Arena: FTX Arena
- Series tied 1-1
The Nuggets had the best record in the Western Conference this season. The Heat needed two play-in games to advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the East. This is one of the reasons why the Nuggets are the betting favorites to win the series and the title.
Miami Heat are looking to win their fourth NBA championship, while the Nuggets are seeking their first.
Here is a look at the upcoming game and series from a gambling perspective:
To Win
Denver Nuggets are the favorites to win game 3 outright with odds of -135. A $100 bet would return $74.07
Point Spread
Nuggets -2 is -112. This means Nuggets must win by more than 2 points and an outlay of $112 would return $100 profit, a total of $212.
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To win the series
Denver Nuggets are heavy favorites at -300. But if you fancy Heat to cause an upset in the series, you can back them at +250. A $100 bet returns a total of $350 with a $250 profit
Odds are correct as of June 6
HEAD-TO-HEAD REGULAR SEASON
Dec. 30: at Nuggets 124, Heat 119
Feb. 13: Nuggets 112, at Heat 108
Scores and schedule for the series
- Game 1: Nuggets 104, Heat 93
- Game 2: Heat 111, Nuggets 108
- Game 3: Nuggets at Heat, Wednesday
- Game 4: Nuggets at Heat, Friday
- Game 5: Heat at Nuggets, June 12
- Game 6: Nuggets at Heat, June 15
- Game 7: Heat at Nuggets, June 18
What happened in Game 2?
Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 as the Miami Heat levelled the NBA Finals with a 111-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
The Heat trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, but they rallied and won to tie the series 1-1 after the first two games.
Vincent was the star of the game for the Heat. He hit four three-pointers and was a force on both ends of the floor.
Butler and Adebayo were also key contributors for the Heat. Butler had 10 rebounds and six assists, while Adebayo had 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Nikola Jokic had a monster game for the Nuggets. He scored 41 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out four assists.
But the Nuggets were unable to get enough help from their other players. Jamal Murray had 18 points and 10 assists, but he also had seven turnovers.
Two more huge games to come
The Heat will now head home for Games 3 and 4, which will be played on Wednesday night and Friday night.
With the series now shifting to Miami, the stakes are higher than ever. The Nuggets, who had the best record in the Western Conference during the regular season, remain the favorites to win the series and claim the championship. However, the Heat's resilience and ability to make a comeback in Game 2 have demonstrated their potential to cause an upset.
As the series progresses, it promises to be a tightly contested battle, with both teams vying for the coveted NBA championship. Game 3 will serve as a crucial turning point, potentially providing the Heat with the opportunity to gain a significant advantage or allowing the Nuggets to regain control of the series. With each team's aspirations and the momentum of Game 2 behind them, all eyes will be on Miami as the NBA Finals continue to unfold.
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