Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Live feed From 4h ago 00.30 BST How to watch the NBA finals Every game of the NBA finals will air in the US on broadcast TV (ABC), live stream (ESPN3) and on NBA League Pass. Additionally, Game 1 will be simulcast on ESPN+.
UK viewers can watch on Sky Sports or NBA League Pass.
Australian viewers can stream on Kayo Sports via
ESPN and additionally through NBA League Pass. Best-of-seven series. All times EDT. Thu 1 Jun Game 1: Heat at Nuggets, 8.30pm (ABC) Sun 4 Jun Game 2: Heat at Nuggets, 8pm (ABC) Wed 7 Jun Game 3: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) Fri 9 Jun Game 4: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) Mon 12 Jun Game 5: Heat at Nuggets, 8.30pm (ABC) * Thu 15 Jun Game 6: Nuggets at Heat, 8.30pm (ABC) * Sun 18 Jun Game 7: Heat at Nuggets, 8pm (ABC) * * if necessary Key events 18m ago The Denver Nuggets win Game 1! 19m ago Heat 93-104 Nuggets, FINAL 1h ago Start of the second half 2h ago End of the first half! 2h ago Opening tip 4h ago How to watch the NBA finals Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 33s ago 04.01 BST Imperious Jokić shines in NBA finals debut as Nuggets take Game 1 from Heat Read more 12m ago 03.50 BST Final thoughts As tends to happen more often than not, the “rest vs rust” question was answered by “rest.” It turns out that having over an extra week to rest worked out perfectly for the Denver Nuggets , who totally outworked an exhausted Miami Heat offense despite a great game from Bam Adebayo. Now the question is whether the Heat can bounce back for Sunday’s Game 2 and manage to pull off a road upset. As today’s game showed, it’s going to take a full team effort to pull off the upset. We’ve seen them do it before, however. Join us at The Guardian for more 2023 NBA Finals coverage for however long the series lasts! We’ll be back covering Game 2 on Sunday. For now, thanks to everybody who followed along with us for today’s live coverage, especially those who contributed. Ciao! 18m ago 03.44 BST The Denver Nuggets win Game 1! The Denver Nuggets have beaten the Miami Heat to take Game 1 of the NBA Finals! 19m ago 03.43 BST Heat 93-104 Nuggets, FINAL Jokić scores, Vincent hits a three-pointer and that will do it. Erik Spoelstra empties the Miami bench and nobody scores after that. The Nuggets beat the Heat by 104-93 and it felt like a much larger deficit than that. Updated at 03.43 BST 21m ago 03.41 BST Heat 90-102 Nuggets, 1:24, 4th quarter A foul on Adebayo puts Jokić on the line for two free throws that basically will ice this. Highsmith, who has had a brilliant Finals debut while most of his teammates were no-shows, responds with a three-pointer. 22m ago 03.40 BST Heat 87-100 Nuggets, 1:52, 4th quarter Caldwell-Pope hits a jumper. Caldwell-Pope draws a foul to get to the line and makes both free throws. So much for those stops. That sound was a window closing in Game 1. 23m ago 03.38 BST Heat 87-96 Nuggets, 2:34, 4th quarter Highsmith with a dunk and a three-pointer, keeping this just-in-hand late. Just a nine point game and just enough time on the clock where overtime is possible if the Heat can get stops. 25m ago 03.37 BST Heat 82-96 Nuggets, 3:27, 4th quarter Highsmith scores, it’s a ten-point game! Could Miami do this? Could they do the impossible yet again? Oh, no, Jokić is on his serial killer game, calmly hitting the softest buckets possible to kill all the Heat’s hopes. 27m ago 03.35 BST Heat 80-92 Nuggets, 4:41, 4th quarter Caldwell-Pope goes to the line for two free throws and misses both of them. Butler drives to the floor and scores and an upset Malone calls another timeout to tell his team to close this thing out. He’s seen what the Heat have done to lesser teams and doesn’t want that to happen to his crew. 29m ago 03.33 BST Heat 78-92 Nuggets, 4:47, 4th quarter Adebayo does what he has been doing all game long: scores in a desperate attempt to keep the Heat in this game. Of course, Murray instantly responds. A Gabe Vincent layup cuts down the lead but right now the Heat’s big enemy is the clock. Of course, so it goes for all of us. 31m ago 03.31 BST Email from Peter Oh: Hi Hunter, At the risk of sounding like a bitter Californian, the first thing I think of when I hear the word ‘nuggets’ is chicken, not gold or Denver. And there are few things worse than watching a team called Heat play like a cold wet sponge. Cheers, Peter Oh This is an extremely fun
basketball game if you are a Nuggets fan or if you have money on the Nuggets. It is not a fun game for anybody else, including apparently Jokić who plays MVP-level basketball like a bored accountant. 34m ago 03.28 BST Heat 74-90 Nuggets, 7:16, 4th quarter Jokić, who wants to wrap this thing up so he can get back to thinking about horses, scores with a layup that forces Miami to take another timeout. Suffice it to say that the Nuggets have survived the Heat’s counterpunch. 36m ago 03.26 BST Heat 74-88 Nuggets, 7:25, 4th quarter Jokić gets fouled and takes a few more free throws. He makes both. 37m ago 03.25 BST Heat 74-86 Nuggets, 8:15, 4th quarter Green calms things down with his Veteran Presence, which this time emerges in the form of a timely basket to stop the Heat run. 38m ago 03.24 BST Heat 74-84 Nuggets, 9:09, 4th quarter Oh I guess that was a three by Lowry, so it’s a 13-point Nuggets lead instead. Oh and Lowry made another. Yikes. Danger zone for Denver? 39m ago 03.22 BST A commercial for “The Bear” on the ABC broadcast, which, as someone who still has nightmares about a single summer working food service back in 2001, I will be giving the hardest pass possible no matter how good everybody says it is. 42m ago 03.19 BST Heat 70-84 Nuggets, 10:02, 4th quarter Lowry hits another shot and Miami has done all the scoring to start the fourth. After an 8-0 run, Malone quickly calls a timeout to try to stem the tide, not wanting to Joe Mazzulla himself by letting this get out of hand. 44m ago 03.18 BST Heat 68-84 Nuggets, 10:27, 4th quarter Gabe Vincent with a three-pointer. That’s five straight points out of the break? Heat comeback starts now? 44m ago 03.17 BST Heat 65-84 Nuggets, 11:20, 4th quarter Highsmith makes a layup to start the fourth quarter. 46m ago 03.15 BST The negative way for Boston Celtics fans to approach the first 3/4ths of this game: Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus have a lot of nerve, turning back into pumpkins as soon as the Finals start — Chris supports workers over management (@cokes311) June 2, 2023 The positive way of looking at things? The Celtics had absolutely no chance of beating this Nuggets team and fans were spared the torture. 49m ago 03.13 BST Heat 63-84 Nuggets, end of the 3rd quarter Brown hits another floater. Lowry hits a three-pointer to answer, but I’m not sure anything that happens from here on out is going to matter except in the final score. 51m ago 03.11 BST Heat 60-82 Nuggets, 1:01, 3rd quarter Jokić gets fouled, goes to the line for 1-for-2. So, hey, that’s something, right Miami? 53m ago 03.09 BST Heat 60-81 Nuggets, 1:41, 3rd quarter An exhausted Adebayo is subbed in by Cody Zeller. Brown hits a jumper and now it’s a 21-point Nuggets lead. 1h ago 03.07 BST Nuggets vs. Heat pic.twitter.com/fzV6bx4fgm — lil pom poko jerk (@rajandelman) June 2, 2023 At this rate, the fourth quarter is going to look like the third act of “The Day After” for the Heat. 1h ago 03.04 BST Heat 60-79 Nuggets, 2:51, 3rd quarter Murray finds Porter Jr for a basket. Bruce Brown hits a three-pointer. Both are assisted by Murray, who can do more than score. (Yes I am already working on his MVP case this early. Have to lay the foundation.) 19-point lead for Denver. Miami calls a timeout. 1h ago 03.03 BST Heat 60-74 Nuggets, 3:52, 3rd quarter There’s the Caleb Martin we saw during the Celtics series. He hits a desperately needed three for Miami. 1h ago 03.02 BST Heat 57-74 Nuggets, 4:26, 3rd quarter Adebayo is the entirety of the Heat offense and he scores but Miami will need a whole lotta stops and some scoring from someone else very soon. 1h ago 03.01 BST Heat 55-74 Nuggets, 5:39, 3rd quarter Neither team comes out of the timeout looking good until Caldwell-Pope hits a three-pointer and wow does this feel over right now. But please please please keep reading! 1h ago 02.57 BST Heat 55-71 Nuggets, 6:12, 3rd quarter Adebayo continues trying to carry the entire offensive load here, driving to the basket for the dunk. On the other end, Jokić gets fouled and makes… just 1-of-2 free throws. That’s basically a win for Miami. Jimmy Butler tips in an Adebayo shot but on the other end Jokić hits a three-point shot. There’s a timeout and… it’s the Nuggets and not the Heat. Which seems weird, but whatever I’ll roll with it. 1h ago 02.53 BST Heat 51-67 Nuggets, 7:44, 3rd quarter Gordon blocks another Strus three-point attempt. Porter Jr gets off on a Denver fast break and gets fouled at the basket for more Nuggets free throws. He makes both. 1h ago 02.52 BST Heat 51-65 Nuggets, 7:54, 3rd quarter Butler with a dunk. Playoff Jimmy is going to have to emerge this half, because Adebayo isn’t going to be able to make up this deficit by himself. 1h ago 02.51 BST Heat 49-65 Nuggets, 8:37, 3rd quarter Strus with yet another miss. 5-for-20 from the three-point range now. Meanwhile, Murray drives to the basket, hits a floater, and picks up a foul. He makes the free throw, the foul is on Martin. 1h ago 02.50 BST Heat 49-62 Nuggets, 9:47, 3rd quarter Caleb Martin is ice cold here, missing another shot. Where was this guy in Game 7? 1h ago 02.49 BST Heat 49-62 Nuggets, 9:47, 3rd quarter Murray, the
fire extinguisher, makes a layup and gets fouled by Butler. On the line, he makes the free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play. 1h ago 02.47 BST Heat 49-59 Nuggets, 10:32, 3rd quarter And a Gabe Vincent three-pointer! Miami making this interesting? Just a ten-point game again. 1h ago 02.47 BST Start of the second half Heat 46-59 Nuggets, 11:14, 3rd quarter Well, those were some quick adjustments, Adebayo scores twice out of halftime. He’s carrying Miami right now. 1h ago 02.44 BST Once again: Murray is going to be the MVP of these Finals. I feel very good about this prediction. The Nuggets' star duo was on point in the first half: ⚒ Murray: 18 PTS | 8-12 FG ⚒ Jokic: 10 PTS | 10 AST pic.twitter.com/bsBz1odnW2 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 2, 2023 1h ago 02.40 BST My improv teacher is a recent basketball convert so I’ve asked for her permission to share her thoughts throughout these Finals, although she is (like the rest of this city) still recovering from the brutal end of the Celtics season earlier this week: Based purely on the halftime box score, gonna take a wild guess that my feeds tomorrow will not be suffocated by pictures of Jimmy Butler smirking, a nightmare I have recently endured — lil pom poko jerk (@rajandelman) June 2, 2023 1h ago 02.35 BST I want to correct myself: Max Strus is not 0-for-7 from the three-point line. He’s 0-for-7 with field goals, only six of them were three-point attempts. This, however, will lead us to the major reason that the Nuggets have a 17-point lead right now: Denver’s three-point percentage? 45.5%. Miami’s? 23.5% The regression to the mean could be happening. 2h ago 02.31 BST Halftime thoughts Well, unfortunately, this is exactly how I expected the Denver Nuggets , after nine days of rest, playing its first home game ever in an NBA Finals, to treat a Miami Heat team that just went seven games against a Boston Celtics team determined to sabotage itself. The Nuggets are playing free and easy and the Heat offense looks… well like it did during the regular season, particularly from the three-point line. 2h ago 02.29 BST End of the first half! Heat 42-59 Nuggets, end of the first half And Murray scores one more time for Denver. So much for Miami cutting down that lead. 2h ago 02.28 BST Heat 42-57 Nuggets, 20.4, 2nd quarter Max Strus misses another three-pointer, he’s 0-for-7. So much for being my X-factor. Murray scores, Adebayo (who has been Miami’s best player so far) answers, but Murray rains down a three-pointer and this one feels like it’s already out of hand. 2h ago 02.27 BST Heat 40-52 Nuggets, 1:49, 2nd quarter Jokić is a great passer, however, which he shows again with a bounce pass to Gordon to increase the Denver lead. Gabe Vincent hits a Heat three-pointer, they desperately need to cut this down before halftime. 2h ago 02.23 BST Heat 37-50 Nuggets, 3:21, 2nd quarter The refs are letting the players play, which I don’t mind. Jokić doesn’t get called for contact with Duncan Robinson. He then gets inside for a basket, an obnoxious three-foot pop-up of a shot that is the basketball equivalent of an excuse-me check swing grounder that squeezes through the infield for an entirely unearned single. I do not like this man’s offensive game from an aesthetic standpoint, but can’t say it doesn’t work. Nuggets have 50 points, the Heat take a timeout. 2h ago 02.19 BST Heat 37-48 Nuggets, 4:47, 2nd quarter Jokić picks up a foul on Highsmith and adds to Denver’s lead with two made free throws. 2h ago 02.18 BST Heat 37-46 Nuggets, 5:30, 2nd quarter The Heat and Nuggets exchange a few baskets before Bruce Brown manages to give Denver some additional cushion with a three-pointer off the bench. 2h ago 02.17 BST Heat 33-41 Nuggets, 6:33, 2nd quarter Lowry hits a floater to cut the Denver lead down to six points. Briefly. Then comes Michael Porter Jr who gets his revenge with a dunk. 2h ago 02.14 BST Heat 31-39 Nuggets, 7:18, 2nd quarter Porter Jr hits another dunk, Bam Adebayo scores twice. On the second play, Porter Jr hits the ground hard and seems shaken up. The crowd wants a foul on Adebayo, but they don’t get one. Denver takes a timeout. 2h ago 02.12 BST Heat 27-37 Nuggets, 8:42, 2nd quarter And now for some role player action. Duncan Robinson makes a three-pointer and the venerable Jeff Green makes a short jumper in response. 2h ago 02.10 BST Heat 24-35 Nuggets, 9:21, 2nd quarter Highsmith hits a two. Michael Porter Jr adds a three-pointer to go with his two blocks, how’s that for some good ol’ 3-and-D? Newest Newest Previous 1 of 2 Next Oldest Oldest Topics NBA finals Denver Nuggets Miami Heat Nikola Jokić Jimmy Butler NBA Basketball Reuse this content