Miami Heat - Denver Nuggets
USA - NBA, Finals, Game 3
It seems that the Miami Heat found a way to stop the attack of the powerful Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.
In the second match of the final series, according to many, probably the best defender of today, Jimmy Butler, took on the role of guarding Jamal Murray. Especially in the key moments of the match, Murray was nowhere near the chance to take good shots. The Canadian, Denver's second star, scored only 18 points in the Nuggets' defeat in their arena. Butler's effect was evident and Miami will stick to that recipe.
Potentially extremely important for Miami will be the possible return of excellent shooter and defender Tyler Hero, after a long recovery from injury. The team definitely needs an additional option in shooting from a distance. Hero gives the team both versatility and character and can be an extremely important factor in the fight for victory, especially in matches in Florida. However, according to the latest information, it is unlikely that he will be ready for this match.
In the regular season, Miami had only 34.4 percent of three-point shooting (the 27th team in the league) - and in the playoffs, they have the best score in three-point shooting, even 39.2 percent. This best shows how studiously coach Spoelstra prepares the team for the playoffs. But also about the character of the team as a whole, the impression is that the Heat are bursting with self-confidence.
The key for Denver will be to find a way for players like Murray, but also the excellent forward Porter, to make easier shots. The responsibility lies with the famous center Nikola Jokić, who had only four assists in the previous game (and over 10 on average in the playoffs). It will be extremely difficult on the court of Miami. The Nuggets are 14-2 this season when both Jokic and Murray score over 25 points in a game.
It will be extremely important for Miami to reduce the number of live-ball turnovers, especially in the fast transition rhythm of the game. For such details, for a true warrior team, the support of fanatical and phenomenal fans will be important, in the first match of the finals in Miami after two games in Denver.
The Denver Nuggets' seven-game winning streak has ended. The team from Colorado has won the last three away games. However, it is far from a team that is dominant when playing away. Denver has lost as many as 11 of the last 20 matches played away from home, since the last week of February.
One gets the impression that Miami will have a hard time letting go of the home field advantage, especially in this, the first match after the triumph in the dramatic ending of the previous game in Denver. In their last match in Miami, Denver won 112:108, but since then the Heat have significantly improved their form and seem like a completely reborn team, especially when it comes to defensive play. Coach Erik Spoelstra kept key assets in the playoff game, is now aiming for the third title of his coaching career and is in a great position in the best-of-4 final series.