The Larry O’Brien Trophy is in the house! For the first time in 77 years the NBA Championship Trophy will be attending a Finals game in Denver. Game 5 is at Ball Arena in front of an eager, joyful, and anxious crowd with an opportunity to see their Nuggets hoist the Larry O’Brien.
The Denver Nuggets went to Miami on a business trip, and they took care of business. The Nuggets won both games in Miami, and the Miami Heat are looking at a 1-3 deficit. The eighth-seeded Heat have not shied away from adversity, and they have won a game at Ball Arena, the only team to do so in the 2023 Playoffs. To win this game they will need excellent execution and a game plan to slow down the dominant duo of Murray and Jokic. Butler will need to play much better than he has in this series, and they must be 40% or better from the three-point line.
The Denver Nuggets have not played great in the Finals, but they haven’t needed to. Not even the 30-point triple-doubles from Murray and Jokic compare to the team effort displayed in the ten prior games against the Phoenix Suns and L.A. Lakers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) has barely been utilized, Michael Porter JR (MPJ) is having his worst four-game shooting percentage of the season, and most bench players haven’t played more than three minutes.
However, the Nuggets have played exceptional defense, and Aaron Gordon is playing at an All-Star level. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are playing in a style and a level never seen before. As much as the national media discredits the feats they have accomplished, this record-breaking duo has been playing well since 2016. And they have perfected it since January.
Will Miami’s historic run continue or will Denver’s dynamic duo go down as one of the most dominant teams of the century? Game 5 will reveal the answer.
BETS OF NIGHT:
Kevin Love OVER 1.5 3s made (+100). He has gone over this line in three straight games, he has 5 or more attempts in those games, and he and his wife gave birth to their first child. He rejoined the team and will be on an emotional high, or as AJ Hawk once referenced it, ‘those dad genes kick in’. A double unit bet as the Heat will live or die by the three tonight.
Aaron Gordon OVER 3.5 Points – 1st Quarter (-105). Aaron Gordon has been an explosive force. He was the leading point scorer of Game 4, and had 11 points in the first quarter of game 1. Two buckets from a dunker, with two excellent passers, in a close-out game?!?! Lay a double unit on it and cash before the start of the second quarter.
THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE:
CENTER – Nikola Jokic. The future Finals MVP is a must have in any lineup. No details needed.
FORWARD – Kevin Love. Love is due for a big game and has the Finals experience to overcome a loud crowd on the road… Dad genes.
GUARD – Max Strus. Strus has had a couple bad games, and it will keep several people from adding him to their roster. Miami will shoot several threes tonight, and if Max is hot he will be a huge tilt.
A personal note, for what it is worth, in case this is the last article of the season.
As a lover of basketball, I am saddened at the thought of going into the off-season. As a fan and writer of the Denver Nuggets, I am overjoyed and anxious for tonight’s game. Enjoy Game 5, as it will be a show, regardless of the outcome.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky – Iggy
The Sports Affiliation 