Through three NBA Finals games, the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat have learned a few lessons.
The Nuggets have learned they can be unstoppable so long as they never feel comfortable against their opponent. The Heat have learned they still have a fighting chance if they don’t cave into their opponent’s superior talent and depth.
Which development will play a bigger factor in Game 4 on Friday? Will the Nuggets extend their 2-1 series lead after showing the sustained effort they displayed in Games 1 and 3 instead of in Game 2? Or will Miami overachieve with its under-dog mentality that enabled itself to beat better teams through this unexpected playoff run?
Based on recent history, either scenario could play out. To prepare for that unpredictability, here's our full Game 4 preview with odds provided by our presenting sponsor – Betfred Sportsbook.
Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat (Friday, 5:30 pm ET, ABC)
Spread: Denver (-3.5)
Over/under: 210.5
Theoretically, the Heat have no answer for the Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic collects a triple double in nearly every playoff game he has played. Jamal Murray has become a threat as a scorer and playmaker both by running a two-man game with Jokic and by creating for himself. In most games, the Nuggets can rely on a combination of Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown to fill in the gaps
What does Miami have to combat that? Not much. It remains undersized. It experiences shooting streaks and slumps. And outside of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, the Heat don’t have a definitive star or role player that consistently produces.
Just like in Game 2, though, the Heat can still make this a competitive series. Expect them to resort to their grind-it-out mentality to compensate for their diminished roster. Expect Butler and Adebayo to rais their games to even higher levels. And expect Miami to continue to start Kevin Love as he did in the past two games to address the team’s size disadvantage and floor spacing.
Therefore, it would be foolish and risky for the Nuggets to count out the Heat just yet. Not when they will play in front of a supportive home crowd. Not with them feeling the pressure to avoid a 3-1 series deficit entering Game 5 in Denver. The Nuggets won’t mess around in Game 4. Yet, Miami has always found a way to overcome the obstacles. No reason to think that won’t continue.
Final Score Prediction: Heat 105, Nuggets 102
Betting Pick: Miami (+3.5/ML (+135)
Mark Medina is a veteran NBA reporter who will be contributing to Aaron Torres Online and Aaron Torres Media throughout the NBA playoffs - follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.
To get full odds on the entire NBA Playoffs visit Betfred Sportsbook
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