2023 NBA Finals Betting Predictions: Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets, Game 1

The NBA playoffs have, for the most part, not gone the way a lot of people expected. Seeing the Milwaukee Bucks bounced early was a surprise, as was the LA Lakers making it all the way to the Western Conference Final. The question now is whether there will be one more surprise before all is said and done or whether this Final is going to be over before it even really has a chance to get started. The Denver Nuggets are in as form favorites here, with many pundits suggesting that the series could be done in as few as 4 or 5 games. The Nuggets will open this series at home and try to put the pressure on the Heat from the start. The Nuggets are favored by 9 points in the opening game, with the point total for this one set at 219 ½. Let’s take a closer look with the NBA betting analysis at Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets Game 1 | NBA Championship Lines by MyBookie

When: Thursday, June 1 at 8:30 PM EST
Where: Ball Arena, Denver
TV: ABC

Why bet on the Miami Heat

You do have to say that it is more than a little surprising to see the Miami Heat in the Finals, especially when you consider the path they needed to take to get there. We all expected to see Miami go out in the opening round after making it through the play-in, but they went out and absolutely bossed the Milwaukee Bucks, winning that series in 5 games. The Heat won 2 of 3 on the road in that series, which was shocking when you consider that they were 17-24 in road games in the regular season. They relied more on their home court in Round, going 1-2 away to the Knicks but winning all 3 at home. They stunned the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Final, going up 3-0 before losing 3 in a row to head to a Game 7, where they blew out the #2 seeds. If they can get a split in Denver, we might just get a series.

Bet Heat to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why bet on the Denver Nuggets

One of the biggest benefits of landing the #1 seed in any sport is the ability to have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Nuggets went 34-7 at home in the regular season, which had to have made a lot of people look at them as a legitimate threat to win it all this year. They took advantage of that in Round 1, winning all 3 home games to oust the Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 games. Once again, they won every home game on their way to a 6-game victory over the Phoenix Suns in Round 2 before sweeping the Lakers in the Western Conference Final. Given that they are unbeaten at home this postseason, it seems like folly to bet against them in their own building at this point.

Bet Nuggets to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Expert Pick and Series Prediction

Very few people gave the Miami heat any shot at getting here, but they have stunned everyone and are now essentially playing with house money. They lost both meetings with the Nuggets in the regular season and I think that streak extends to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Miami Heat 111 Denver Nuggets 120

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