Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat host of the 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 getting a Game 3 win on the road. Denver is making its first Finals appearance, while Miami is playing in its seventh franchise appearance and its first since the 2020 bubble season.
USA TODAY Sports brings you the latest news, updates, analysis and more throughout Game 4. Just follow.
When is Game 4 of the NBA Finals?
The Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets will tip off Game 4 at 8:30 pm on Friday, June 9. The game will be at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
How to watch the NBA Finals
ABC broadcasts every game. You can live stream the game on Hulu with live TV, ESPN, DirecTV Stream and YouTubeTV.
Follow each game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules
Uniform NBA Finals schedule for Heat and Nuggets
Here’s which uniform each team will wear for Game 4, via NBA’s LockerVision:
Chris Tucker called Adam Silver for a courtside seat in Game 4
The comedian and actor will be front and center at Game 4 in Miami Friday thanks to the NBA commissioner. Tucker said he went through his rolodex of A-list contacts to secure the coveted courtside ticket to the Kaseya Center.
“It’s easy. I asked everybody man. I don’t want to name no names, but um, Adam Silver gave me some tickets,” Tucker said on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” broadcast. “I called everybody for these tickets. I got front row tonight, so I hope (the Heat) win.”
Erik Spoelstra wants tickets to see Lionel Messi… and so does everyone else
About two hours before Game 4, an international reporter asked Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who coached LeBron James, how it felt to have the most famous player in the world join a team, referring to the decision of Lionel Messi of soccer to join Inter Miami CF of the MLS.
“My two sons are just starting to get into soccer … football,” Spoelstra said, a nod to the sport’s global recognition. “So, I hope we can get tickets and I hope I can take them to some games.”
Spoelstra needn’t have worried. He will have no problem getting tickets to see Messi and Inter Miami.
What is Tyler Herro’s status: Does he play in Game 4?
Tyler Herro (hand) of the Miami Heat has been discharged for Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked what kept Herro from being medically cleared to play after breaking his right hand in April.
“He just started this process while we were in Denver. So it’s one thing to go through all of this. It’s another thing obviously to play a game in the NBA Finals,” Spoelstra said Friday before Game 4. “Take it step by step, and we’re all really encouraged by the progress.”
NBA Finals TV 2023 schedule
Here’s the full schedule:
*if needed
NBA Finals Game 4 betting odds
Tipico Sportsbook has it the spread is favorable Denver by 3.5 points against Miami. They have the moneyline for Miami set at +140 and for Denver set at -160. They have the over/under for the 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 closing in on the franchise’s first title, feeling the moment and ready to head home for a chance to close out the Finals. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray again helped the Nuggets get the win and a 3-1 series lead.
Safid Deen: Heat 113, Nuggets 109: “Playoff Jimmy” Butler made his mark slowing down Jamal Murray, as the Heat players found their shooting touch to win close to home.
How Nuggets rookie Christian Braun helped power NBA Finals Game 3 win
Denver Nuggets rookie reserve Christian Braun has six points in the first two games of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. He more than doubled his point production on Wednesday.
He had 11 of his 15 points in Game 3 in the second half of Denver’s 109-94 win, which helped push the Nuggets to a 2-1 series lead.
“My job is to be ready when my name is called,” Braun said. “Playing with Nikola (Jokic), playing with Jamal (Murray), whoever it is, just having to be ready for the ball, and now they found me in some pretty easy spots. … this is the NBA Finals, so when your name is called, you know you have to be ready.” — Jeff Zillgitt
Happy birthday Udonis Haslem, Nikola Jovic!
Miami Heat teammates Udonis Haslem, the oldest man in the 2023 NBA Finals at age 43, and Nikola Jovic, the youngest man in the NBA Finals at age 20, share the same birthday on Friday, which happens to be Game 4 day.
“Niko, what the hell, 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 can’t remember what I was doing at 19 or 20, but I certainly wasn’t making millions of dollars, so congratulations. I’m definitely not in the Finals, so congratulations. Enjoy your day my brother.”
Jovic, not to be confused with Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, told Haslem: “Happy birthday UD. I know we have the same birthday. It means a lot to me, especially since you are the oldest man here and I am the youngest. You are a vet, you have helped me a lot this year. I hope we win this (championship).”
Jovic was born on June 9, 2003. Haslem made his NBA debut for the Heat almost two months later on August 6, 2003.
Nikola Jokic’s statistics
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’s stats
Through 20 playoff games, Butler is averaging 27.3 points on 47.4% shooting, including 35.7% from 3. He is also grabbing 6.6 rebounds, dishing out 5.9 assists and 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’s 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 in 68 regular-season games.
Bam Adebayo stats
In 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 statistics
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 Warriors
- 2021: Milwaukee Bucks
- 2020: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2019: Toronto Raptors
- 2018: Golden State Warriors
- 2017: Golden State Warriors
- 2016: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2015: Golden State Warriors
- 2014: San Antonio Spurs
- 2013: Miami Heat
- 2012: Miami Heat
- 2011: Dallas Mavericks
- 2010: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2009: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2008: Boston Celtics
- 2007: San Antonio Spurs
- 2006: Miami Heat
- 2005: San Antonio Spurs
- 2004: Detroit Pistons
- 2003: San Antonio Spurs
- 2002: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2001: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2000: Los Angeles Lakers
- 1999: San Antonio Spurs
- 1998: Chicago Bulls