When is Nuggets-Heat Game 4, how to watch

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat host two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets for Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Finals on Friday night. The Nuggets have a 2-1 series lead after they picked up a Game 3 win on the road. Denver is making their first Finals appearance, while Miami is playing in its seventh franchise appearance and its first since the 2020 bubble season. 

USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest news, updates, analysis and more throughout Game 4. Follow along. 

When is Game 4 of the NBA Finals? 

The Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets tip off Game 4 at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 9. The game is at Kaseya Center in Miami. 

How to watch NBA Finals

ABC is broadcasting each game. You can live stream the game on Hulu with live TV, ESPN, DirecTV Stream and YouTubeTV. 

Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules

NBA Finals TV schedule 2023 

Here is the full schedule:  

*if necessary 

NBA Finals Game 4 betting odds  

Tipico Sportsbook has the spread favoring Denver by 3.5 points over Miami. They have the moneyline for Miami set at +140 and for Denver set at –160. They have the over/under for total points set at 214.5. 

NBA Finals Game 4 predictions: Nuggets or Heat?

USA TODAY Sports experts offer their picks for Game 4:

Jeff Zillgitt: Nuggets 107, Heat 100: While Miami will play better in Game 4, Denver is getting closer to the franchise’s first title, sensing the moment and ready to return home for a chance to close out the Finals. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray once again help the Nuggets get the victory and a 3-1 series lead.

Safid Deen: Heat 113, Nuggets 109: “Playoff Jimmy” Butler makes his mark slowing down Jamal Murray, while the Heat’s role players find their shooting touch to win a close one at home.

How Nuggets rookie Christian Braun helped power NBA Finals Game 3 win

Denver Nuggets rookie reserve Christian Braun had six points through the first two games of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. He more than doubled his point production Wednesday.

He had 11 of his 15 points in Game 3 in the second half of Denver’s 109-94 victory, helping push the Nuggets to a 2-1 series lead.

“My job is just to be ready when my name is called,” Braun said. “Playing with Nikola (Jokic), playing with Jamal (Murray), whoever it is, just got to be ready for the ball, and today they found me in some pretty easy spots. … it’s the NBA Finals, so if your name is called, you know you’ve got to be ready.” — Jeff Zillgitt

Happy birthday Udonis Haslem, Nikola Jovic!

Miami Heat teammates Udonis Haslem, the oldest person in the 2023 NBA Finals at age 43, and Nikola Jovic, the youngest person in the NBA Finals at age 20, share the same birthday on Friday, which happens to be the day of Game 4.

“Niko, what’s up, it’s OG. Wanted to wish you a happy 12th birthday… I mean… You are turning 20,” Haslem said in a message to Jovic. “I don’t remember what I was doing at 19 or 20, but I definitely wasn’t making millions of dollars, so congratulations. I definitely wasn’t in the Finals, so congratulations. Enjoy your day my brother.”

Jovic, not to be confused with the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, told Haslem: “Happy birthday UD. I know we share the same birthday. It means a lot to me, especially because you are the oldest guy here and I’m the youngest. You are a vet, you helped me a lot this year. I hope we are going to win this (championship).”

Jovic was born on June 9, 2003. Haslem made his NBA debut for the Heat nearly two months later on Aug. 6, 2003.

Nikola Jokic stats

The two-time league MVP is averaging a triple-double this postseason: 30.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game.

Jimmy Butler stats 

Through 20 playoff games, Butler is averaging 27.3 points on 47.4% shooting, including 35.7% from 3. He’s also grabbing 6.6 rebounds, dishing out 5.9 assists and snagging 1.8 steals per game. 

Over 64 regular-season games, Butler averaged 22.9 points on 53.9% shooting (35% from 3), 5.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. 

Aaron Gordon stats 

In 18 postseason games so far, the 6-foot-8 Nuggets forward is averaging 13 points on 51.1% shooting, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Gordon averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3 assists across 68 regular-season games. 

Bam Adebayo stats

Over 21 games this postseason, the Heat big man is averaging 17.7 points on 49.7% shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

In 75 regular-season games this year, the 25-year-old averaged 20.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Jamal Murray stats 

Over 18 games this postseason, the Nuggets guard is averaging 27.4 points on 48.4% shooting (39.6% from 3), 5.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. In 65 regular-season games this season, the 26-year-old averaged 20 points on 45.4% shooting (39.8% from 3), 4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. 

NBA Finals winners

Here are the NBA champions of the last 25 years:

2022: Golden State Warriors2021: Milwaukee Bucks2020: Los Angeles Lakers2019: Toronto Raptors2018: Golden State Warriors2017: Golden State Warriors2016: Cleveland Cavaliers2015: Golden State Warriors2014: San Antonio Spurs2013: Miami Heat2012: Miami Heat2011: Dallas Mavericks2010: Los Angeles Lakers2009: Los Angeles Lakers2008: Boston Celtics2007: San Antonio Spurs2006: Miami Heat2005: San Antonio Spurs2004: Detroit Pistons2003: San Antonion Spurs2002: Los Angeles Lakers2001: Los Angeles Lakers2000: Los Angeles Lakers1999: San Antonion Spurs1998: Chicago Bulls

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