As we look at Game 1 odds, series prices, and props for the 2023 NBA Finals featuring Heat vs. Nuggets, gamblers are already off and flying. Sportsbooks opened wagering options moments after the Heat eliminated the Boston Celtics, 103-84 Monday night.
While Miami is the large underdog against the Nuggets, it’s not quite midnight for the NBA’s top-flight Cinderella story.
Midnight on Monday, minutes after Miami completed its upset over the Celtics in the East Finals, saw Heat and Nuggets bettors briskly producing the volume that suggests heavy wagering across the sports betting landscape throughout the entire series.
Heat vs. Nuggets Series Price
DraftKings opened Denver at -360 on the NBA Finals series price and Miami +280 to win the title. FanDuel had Denver -450 and Miami at +320.
Early action has seen the series odds move in Denver’s direction. Here are series prices at four of the best sports betting apps as of Thursday:
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM (Code TODAY) | Caesars (Code 'TODAYFULL') | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuggets | -425 | -460 | -400 | -410 |
| Heat | +320 | +350 | +310 | +320 |
Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1 Betting Lines & Early Action
Shoppers saw Miami +8.5 at DraftKings and +9 at FanDuel for Game 1 when betting opened late Monday night, and the market remains in the range Thursday afternoon.
Heat backers have been rewarded all postseason for jumping aboard this underdog train, and early bettors are looking for more in Game 1, favoring the Heat on the moneyline (72% handle, 66% bets) and with the spread (66% handle) at DraftKings.
Nuggets backers remained steadfast, supporting Denver with 67% of tickets on the point spread.
The Over-Under of 218.5 to 219 reflects Denver’s high-scoring output throughout the playoffs.
Betting percentages will be batted back and forth up until game time, but a noteworthy move occurred in the second 30 minutes of trading. The Over surged from 76% to 93% of the DraftKings handle.
Here are live odds for Game 1:
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Bet TypeSpreads
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Open |
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Heat and Under Bettors on Fire
If the Over prevails in Game 1, it will be a departure from recent form. The Under prevailed both in Boston’s 104-103 Game 6 triumph and in Miami’s Game 7 romp Monday night.
Under backers caught a break in Game 6 with three late missed free throws that helped them snuggle under the 209.5 Total. In Game 7, the total was 204, and the Under prevailed in a laugher. That delighted the astute minority of 20% on the handle and 21% of the tickets at DraftKings.
Where the majority romped was in backing all things Miami. The Heat garnered 67% of the handle and 76% of the bets at +7.5. Miami also tabbed 58% of the handle and 68% of the bets to return a sizable +235 on the moneyline.
Heat vs. Nuggets Props
Here is a sampling of prop bets offered at DraftKings for Game 1.]
- Denver team total: 114.5 (Over -110, Under -120)
- Miami team total: 104.5 (Over -125, Under -105)
- Will there be overtime? (Yes +1500, No -3000).
3 Categories of Player Props for Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1
Player Points
- Nikola Jokic 27.5 (Over -110, Under -120)
- Jimmy Butler 27.5 (Both sides -115)
- Jamal Murray 25.5 (Over -125, Under -105)
- Caleb Martin 16.5 (Over +100, Under -130)
- Bam Adebayo 16.5 (Both sides -115)
Player Rebounds
- Jokic 13.5 (Over -110, Under -120)
- Michael Porter Jr. 7.5 (Over -105, Under -125)
- Martin 7.5 (Over +115, Under -145)
Player Assists
- Jokic 10.5 (Over +105, Under -145)
- Murray 5.5 (Both sides -115)
- Butler 5.5 (Over -145, Under +115)
Heat vs. Nuggets Series Props at FanDuel
Bettors can weave through an extensive menu to find prop betting value at FanDuel.
NBA Finals Correct Score
- Nuggets 4-0 sweep (+500)
- Nuggets 4-1 (+210)
- Nuggets 4-2 (+430)
- Nuggets 4-3 (+370)
- Heat 4-0 Sweep (+5000)
- Heat 4-1 (+2500)
- Heat 4-2 (+800)
- Heat 4-3 (+900)
NBA Finals Total Games
- 4 (+480)
- 5 (+190)
- 6 (+240)
- 7 (+230)
Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1 Performance Double Parlay Builder
- Jokic points and Nuggets win (+160)
- Jokic 12 assists and Nuggets win (+205)
- Jimmy Butler double-double and Heat win (+650)
- Butler 8 assists and Heat win (+850)
- Caleb Martin 4 or more 3-pointers and Heat win (+1120)
Nuggets Betting Trends
The Nuggets have been a juggernaut in Game 1 of the previous three playoff rounds. They have won by 29, six, and 18 points.
For totals bettors, in Game 1 of the last two series, versus the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, the Nuggets helped combine for 232 and 258 points, respectively.
Denver is the only NBA team unbeaten at home throughout the playoffs.
The Nuggets are scorching playoff opponents. They have won six straight and gone 12-3 to reach the Finals. They have averaged 119 points in their last six games.
History Made and History Saved
The Heat became the first-ever NBA play-in team to appear in the NBA Finals. They knocked off the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, No. 5 New York Knicks, and then the No. 2 Celtics.
They did all of this with a homecourt disadvantage. Miami seized the homecourt edge by winning the first game on the road in each series.
What makes the achievement more monumental is that Miami wasn’t merely a play-in team. The Heat lost the first tournament game to the Atlanta Hawks and had to defeat the Chicago Bulls to save their season.
Miami also averted a historic disaster. In beating the Celtics, it avoided becoming the first team ever to blow a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. Teams that led 3-0 were 150-0 coming into this series. Miami avoided being the 1.
How to Watch Heat vs. Nuggets Game 1
Game Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
Game Time:8:30 p.m. ET
Game Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Channel: ABC
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