**NBA Finals Game 5 Preview: Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat** The Nuggets will be crowned the 2023 NBA Champions. It’s just a matter of when. With a commanding 3-1 lead and a Game 5 in Denver, we look at their two wins in Miami and the keys to Game 5 but before we do, head to the [best betting site in Nigeria, BetKing](https://m.betking.com/), and check out our variety of betting options from [live matches today](https://m.betking.com/live) to our [virtual bets](https://m.betking.com/virtual) section. You can also read about our new feature; the [Pick 11 Jackpot Bet here.](https://blog.betking.com/2023/04/12/jackpot-bet/) BetKing also offers Daily Specials with boosted odds, which you can find [here](https://m.betking.com/sports/events/prematch/soccer/special-offer/daily-special-bets). You can bookmark these pages and visit every morning for new and enhanced specials.
**Games 5 Location: Denver, Colorado** The Denver Nuggets are on the verge of being crowned NBA Champions for the first time in their franchise history after securing two consecutive wins in Miami. Their dominant performance continued with a 109-94 victory in Game 3 and a 108-95 triumph in Game 4. The Miami Heat find themselves in a precarious situation, needing to accomplish a feat that has only been achieved once in 36 NBA finals: staging a comeback from a 3-1 deficit. The sole instance of such a comeback occurred in 2016 when the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, became the first and only team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals. However, it appears highly improbable for the Heat to replicate that remarkable feat. Game 3 went exactly as we expected as we hit all [3 of our betting tips](https://blog.betking.com/2023/06/07/nba-finals/) and Game 4 wasn’t so far off. Not known for their road performances, the Nuggets have gone from losing their first 3 road games in this playoff to winning each of their last 5. We’ll break down the two Nuggets win before discussing what we expect to happen in Game 5 (and a potential Game 6).
**Keys To Denver’s Two Wins In Miami** **Nuggets’ Immense Defense**: Despite their mediocre defensive ranking during the regular season, the Denver Nuggets have showcased a completely transformed defensive performance in the finals. While they ranked 15th in Defensive Rating among all teams and 8th among playoff teams prior to the finals, their recent games have displayed a significant improvement. Head Coach [Mike Malone publicly criticized his players](https://www.youtube.com/embed/f1I_tR7z0t8) for their lack of effort in Games 1 and 2, which seemed to ignite a change in their approach. In contrast, the Miami Heat entered the finals with an impressive average of 114.7 points per game (PPG). However, they have only surpassed the 100-point mark once in the finals against the Nuggets. Denver’s defense has been remarkably effective, limiting the Heat to an average of 98.3 PPG, resulting in a substantial drop of 16.4 points.The Nuggets’ defensive prowess deserves recognition for their remarkable improvement over the past 10 days. However, there is likely another contributing factor to the Heat’s decrease in offensive output, which will be discussed next. **Heat’s Role-Players Flaming Out**: In their run-up to the finals, particularly in the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics, the Miami Heat heavily relied on their role players to deliver impactful offensive performances. This allowed the team’s star players, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, to operate without excessive pressure. Players such as Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, and Max Strus emerged as dependable scorers, while Caleb Martin’s exceptional contributions were so significant that he narrowly missed out on being named the Eastern Conference finals MVP. This final, only Gabe Vincent has maintained his offensive productivity but for the other three, the clock seems to have struck midnight on their Cinderella dreams. Caleb Martin has gone from averaging 19.3 PPG against the Boston Celtics to 6.8 PPG against the Nuggets, and it’s no surprise they have dropped him for veteran PF, Kevin Love. **Aaron Gordon’s Huge Game 4**: Aaron Gordon has established himself as a prominent player in this playoff run, primarily because of his effective defense against the opposing teams’ Small Forward/Power Forward positions. Remarkably, these players have often turned out to be the opposition’s most potent offensive threats. Whether it was Karl Anthony-Towns of the Timberwolves, Kevin Durant of the Suns, LeBron James of the Lakers, or now Jimmy Butler, Gordon has consistently been tasked with guarding them, and he has thrived in this challenging role. However, in Game 4, Gordon’s impact stood out not only on the defensive end but also on the offensive side of the court. With Nikola Jokić in foul trouble and Jamal Murray struggling with his scoring, it was Gordon who stepped up. He delivered an outstanding performance, tallying a playoff career-high 27 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting, including an impressive 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. He contributed 7 rebounds and 6 assists, showcasing his versatility and overall impact on the game. **Jamal Murray’s Playmaking**: The Nuggets have a unique setup with their Point Guard, Jamal Murray, serving as their primary scorer, while their Center, Nikola Jokić, acts as their primary playmaker. This unconventional arrangement has led to Murray’s playmaking abilities being overlooked in favor of his scoring. Murray averaged 6.2 assists per game during the Regular Season, but in the finals, he has increased his average to 10.5 assists per game. Remarkably, he became the first player in NBA history to achieve 10+ assists in each of his first four games in a final. This exceptional playmaking, combined with Jokić’s, has allowed their teammates to excel. Against defensive strategies like the Heat’s blitz, Murray has effectively found open teammates such as Aaron Gordon, who capitalized on backdoor cuts. Murray has displayed maturity by relying on his playmaking when his scoring hasn’t been as successful, ultimately making a significant impact in the series.
**What To Expect From Game 5** **Relatively Low Scoring… Again**: Prior to the finals, the Nuggets averaged 115.4 points per game at home 118.3 points on the road. Similarly, the Heat averaged 113.0 points at home and 116.3 points on the road. So far, the Nuggets have averaged 107.3 PPG while the Heat are averaging 98.3 PPG. We believe this game will follow a similar pattern regardless of the victor. The Nuggets have won their three games in the finals by comfortable margins. In those victories, they held the Heat to 93, 94, and 95 points, outscoring them by 11, 15, and 13 points respectively. The consistency of their defensive performance has been a key factor in their success. We’ve been successful in tipping -5.5 point handicap wins for Denver, but we won’t get greedy by going higher, we’ll stick with what has worked for us. **Miami Heat To Get Physical & “Dirty”**: The Miami Heat have attempted various strategies against the Nuggets but could not find success. Even their trademark physicality, which often gives them an edge over opponents, has been neutralized because of the Nuggets’ size advantage. With their season on the line, we expect that the Heat will intensify their physicality and resort to playing “dirty” tactics. They may employ more gamesmanship to provoke the Nuggets and disrupt their focus. We witnessed a little of that when they flopped their way into getting Nikola Jokić into foul trouble, and we expect more of that. The veteran Point Guard, Kyle Lowry is one to monitor in this aspect. **Denver Nuggets To Close It Out**: The Nuggets are a very disciplined and focused team – they don’t play with their breakfast. They understand the risks of complacency and are determined to finish strong on Monday, with Head Coach Mike Malone taking every measure to ensure their success. **Miami’s Possible X-Factor?**: Is Tyler Herro set to make a comeback? The 6’5″ Guard has been sidelined since April 16 because of a hand fracture suffered in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Last season, Herro won the 6th Man of the Year award, and this season he further impressed by averaging 20.1 points per game on 43.9% shooting, along with 4.2 assists. The Miami team has struggled offensively in this final, and they have keenly felt the absence of Herro’s scoring prowess. Although he has not yet received medical clearance to return, the team’s dire situation may prompt him to make an early comeback, which could potentially lead them to an unexpected victory.
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