Heat vs. Nuggets Game 5 Preview, Odds, Lines, Predictions, Picks

The Miami Heat have no other option but to beat Denver Nuggets in Colorado. Otherwise, the 2023 NBA Finals are over, and the franchise from Mile High is the new champion. Game 5 of the finals is set for this Monday night, at the Ball Arena, with the trophy being present in the back room, in case the Nuggets end up on the winning side. Apart from the Cavaliers led by LeBron, there weren’t any teams in the NBA Finals to come back from a 3-1 deficit. The Nuggets want it to remain like that, while the Heat have the opposite intention. 

• Heat Odds +330
• Nuggets Odds -430
• Spread Nuggets -9
• Over/Under 208

Preview

Miami Heat (+330) lost both games at home, and after a win in Game 2, which took place at Mile High, the momentum of Spoelstra’s boys is completely gone. They gave their best shot in the finish of the previous event, with Jokic sitting on the bench, and still failed to win. 

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo played well, but the rest of the Heat stars failed to show up. We particularly mean Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. The two starting guards had only two points combined, shooting 1-for-10 from the field and missing all of their seven three-point shots. 

Butler ended the game with 25 points, seven assists and boards, while Adebayo had 20 points and 11 boards but seven turnovers. It is obvious that this team can’t compete with the Nuggets’ power, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Denver Nuggets (-430) had Jamal Murray stepping up and taking the responsibility in this one. Jokic was out with five fouls when Murray started organizing the Nuggets’ offense. In the end, he had only 15 points but 12 assists without turnovers.

Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown had 27 and 21 points, respectively, and apart from killing the Heat in offense, they were the ones who kept a high intensity in defense. Michael Porter Jr. didn’t have his night, but he, too, was solid in defense. 

As for Jokic, 23 points and 12 boards with three steals and blocks are just fine for the two-time NBA MVP. The Nuggets passed a test of playing without him which increases the value of this victory even more. 

Head to Head Games

The Nuggets won both events in the regular season and opened the NBA Finals with a 104-93 victory. The Heat made a break in the second event, 111-108, but the team from Colorado responded in Miami, 109-94 and 108-95. They now have a chance to win the title at home and bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to Denver for the first time. 

Prediction

The Nuggets are 9-point favorites, and we believe they will cover this spread. We respect the Heat and their motivation, but the Mile High awaited this moment for eternity, and we are more than sure that the Nuggets’ players are fully focused on winning this contest and becoming immortal. Therefore, we are all in for the Nuggets -9 with odds -110. For those who love specials, try Jokic records a triple-double.

Pick: Nuggets -9 -110

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