Eventually, after staging a befittingly unforgettable comeback, Celtics, unfortunately, breathed their last in the 2023 Eastern Series Playoffs. It is not lost to our memory that they had thrown a 3-0 series defeat behind their back with games 4,5, and 6 wins against Miami Heat. Literally, they were on the brink of a record-shuttering season. 

Historically, no team has ever come back from such an early defeat to knock out the runaway winners. They had fought so hard to stay in the competition, but as they say, the sufficiently prepared team is typically the one in front. 

On the other side, Denver Nuggets had easy fixtures against the L. A Lakers; they effortlessly cruised through to finals, having floored the latter in the four opening matches of the Western Conference semi-final playoffs. 

From pundits to fans, the entire NBA fraternity had their eyes now set on Celtics Vs. Heat game 7 (Eastern Conference Final). It was the ultimate decision, and it didn’t disappoint. 

Miami Heat won the match with a comfortable margin of 103 against 84. While this scoreline aligns with the tournament’s history, Miami Heat’s teamwork and brilliant performances by their Marquee players wowed NBA followers. Equally joyful was their coach, Erik Spoelstra. 

Jimmy Butler found his rhythm early in the game despite his below-expectation scores in game 6. He went on records with a whopping 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 remarkable assists. This wasn’t a surprise, given Butler’s so far brightly shining star in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. He has produced monumental performances at the time when his team and coach needed him most. 

At the end of the match, he was unsurprisingly presented with the coveted Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference MVP. He attributed the win to his teammates, whom he described as real basketball players with the ability to score, defend and pass to win games. 

Also, Udonis Haslem, the experienced Heat power forward, won the Bob Cousy Trophy for winning the Eastern Conference title in the locker room. 

Nevertheless, Caleb Martin turned out as the unexpected hero of the series. With 26 points and 10 rebounds in the game, his prolific profile is destined for bigger moments.

Once again, he proved Eric’s tactical masterclass as he had been called into the first team alongside Gabe Vincent as the perfect replacement for injured Tyler Herro. 

Denver Nuggets Vs. Miami Heat Final Series So Far 

Having won the finals of their respective conferences, the Nuggets Vs. Heat final was confirmed. So far, Nuggets are leading the way to the championship crown, and here is our unbiased game-by-game analysis for avid NBA lovers. 

Game 1; Nuggets 104, Heat 93 

As is the norm, the 2023 NBA finals first match was tense galore, but the Nuggets carried the day. With 19,528 fans attending the match at the Ball Arena, Denver, on June 1st, the stage was set for the epic clash. 

Nikola Jokic, the in-form two-time NBA MVP, marked his debut in the finals with a memorable performance. He finished the match with 27 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. He nostalgically reminded the home fans of their glorious past with his fan-arousing antics re-awakening the 47-year-old memories of when the Nuggets last made it to the finals.  

His teammates didn’t take the backseat while Jokic was steering them to victory. Notably, Jamal Murray had 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists. The next in the pecking order was Bam Adebayor, with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

There were few talking points for Eric Spoelstra’s men as Denver’s performance significantly masked them despite their illustrious show in the build-up to their qualification. They disappointingly broke the records but on the reverse side! 

They tied the fewest throws ever made in a playoff game and shuttered the record for the fewest attempts from the line at this competition stage. It is a night every Heat fan wishes will fade from their memory soonest when the second match kicks off on Sunday 11th. 

Game 2; Miami Heat Roar Back To Win Ways With 111 Vs. 108 Victory Over Nuggets

It seems Heat returned to the drawing board to retrace their footing as they went back to winning ways in game two. Albeit with a slim margin, the second match of the 7-series finals match-up produced unprecedented heat and light, with enthusiastic fans on the stands capturing the best dunks and scoring opportunities to relive them in the future. 

Nikola Jokic was again a thorn in Heat’s flesh scoring 41 points. However, combined efforts from the usual suspects dealt a big blow to the Nugget’s early runaway win. 

Gabe Vincent went on record with 23 points, while Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler scored 21 points. 

The game had exciting turns and twists, with the Nuggets enjoying a commanding double digits lead (11-0), but Heat showed their character and upstaged the favourites in the game’s final stages, forcing a 1-1 series tie. 

Game 3; Denver Nugget Floor Miami Heat Again With a 109 -94 Score 

Game three of the finals series was the icing on the cake of a thrilling 2023 NBA season. The Nuggets returned to their customary calmness with Nicola Jokic and Jamal Murray, yet again producing stellar performances. 

In fact, the duo’s performance was historic. They broke records as the first two players from the same team ever to have posted 30-point triple-doubles in the same game contributing heavily to Nugget’s hardly-fought cruise to a 109-94 win over the Heat. 

The game started with a rather low vibe from the star players. Jamal had 0 points in the first quarter, while Jokic was relatively sluggish with ball distribution. However, they slowly grew into the game and exerted the much-needed intensity from the line. Within five minutes, Murray had 8 points, and Jokic had 14. The momentum was building, albeit with almost equal defence and forward prowess from the Heat. 

Eventually, the Nuggets prevailed, with Jokic scoring 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists. Undoubtedly, his flowering career seems to be a nip in the bud of the Heat’s final’s dream as he stubbornly continues to heap accolades to his name. 

With a 2-1 victory in favour of the Nuggets, the shift now focuses on the series’s fourth match, which takes place on Friday, 9th June, at the iconic Kaseya Center, Miami, FL. We look forward to meeting all the fans here as we furnish them with objective team news, match reports, and the talking points shaping the series so far.