Jimmy Butler and the Heat will take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in the NBA Finals starting June 1.
The Denver Nuggets are in their first NBA Finals in franchise history, while the Miami Heat are playing in their seventh Finals overall and sixth since 2011.
Below is a look at the last six regular-season games between the Nuggets and Heat as we gear up for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 1 at Ball Arena (8:30 ET, ABC).
2022-23 season
Dec. 30, 2022 (in Denver)
Final score: Nuggets 124, Heat 119
Top performers for Heat: Bam Adebayo (22 pts, 7 reb, 4 stl, 2 blk) | Tyler Herro (26 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast) | Jimmy Butler (17 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl) | Max Strus (19 pts)
Top performers for Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (19 pts, 12 reb, 12 ast) | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (20 pts) | Jamal Murray (14 pts, 6 reb) | Bones Hyland (16 pts, 4 ast)
Looking back: While he wasn’t the leading scorer in the game, Murray proved his worth in crunch time. Denver trailed 117-115 with 2:23 to go, but Murray scored seven straight points — a 3-pointer, two free throws and a floater — to push Denver to the victory. Jokic notched his 84th career triple-double in the game, Hyland (who was traded to the LA Clippers less than two months later) came through off the bench and Caldwell-Pope was a perfect 7-for-7 in the game, too. Also worth noting: Duncan Robinson nailed three 3-pointers in the loss, passing Tim Hardaway for No. 1 on the franchise’s all-time 3-pointers made list.
The Nuggets defeat the Heat, 124-119, on Dec. 30, 2022.
Feb. 13, 2023 (in Miami)
Final score: Nuggets 112, Heat 108
Top performers for Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (27 pts, 12 reb, 8 ast) | Michael Porter Jr. (17 pts, 6 reb) | Jeff Green (12 pts) | Bruce Brown (16 pts)
Top performers for Heat: Jimmy Butler (24 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast) | Max Strus (23 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast) | Bam Adebayo (19 pts) | Gabe Vincent (15 pts)
Looking back: A dominating performance in the paint sparked the Nuggets’ victory, led by Jokic’s 12-for-14 shooting that saw him make 11 of 13 shots inside the key. Overall, Denver shot 29-for-40 in the paint even though Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray missed the game due to injury. As for Miami, it was a bit shorthanded in this game as Kyle Lowry (knee), Victor Oladipo (ankle) and Tyler Herro (knee) all missed the game due to injury.
Nikola Jokic runs wild as the Nuggets beat the Heat on Feb. 13, 2023.
2021-22 season
Nov. 8, 2021 (in Denver)
Final score: Nuggets 113, Heat 96
Top performers for Heat: Jimmy Butler (31 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) | Bam Adebayo (10 pts, 10 reb) | Duncan Robinson (13 pts) | Tyler Herro (11 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast)
Top performers for Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (25 pts, 15 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) | Will Barton (25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast) | Aaron Gordon (10 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast) | Monte Morris (14 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast)
Looking back: Behind a dominant triple-double from Jokic, the Nuggets took early control of this game and led by 21 entering the 4th quarter. What this game is perhaps best known for was a scuffle between Jokic and Heat reserve Markieff Morris with 2:39 left in the game. Jokic and Morris were both ejected for their actions, which led to Jokic violently slamming his shoulder into Morris. Morris walked off the court on his own but would wind up missing the next 58 games recovering from the injury. The NBA gave Jokic a one-game suspension for his actions and Morris was fined $50,000 for committing a Flagrant Foul 2 on Jokic that initiated the altercation.
The Nuggets defeat the Heat, 113-96, in their matchup from Nov. 8, 2021.
Nov. 29, 2021 (in Miami)
Final score: Nuggets 120, Heat 111
Top performers for Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (24 pts, 15 reb, 7 ast) | Aaron Gordon (20 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast) | Monte Morris (11 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast) | Bones Hyland (19 pts)
Top performers for Heat: Bam Adebayo (24 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast) | Kyle Lowry (17 pts, 14 ast) | Caleb Martin (18 pts, 4 reb) | Max Strus (19 pts, 3 ast)
Looking back: After missing four games with a wrist injury — and Denver having dropped six straight on top of that — Nikola Jokic was glad to return to the Nuggets’ lineup. He showed it, too, coming within three assists of a triple-double as Denver ended their longest losing streak in nearly six years. The Nuggets built a 50-35 lead and were up 63-43 at halftime in a game that quickly became a blowout despite the final score. Jokic was booed every time he touched the ball, though, as this was the first game between the teams since the Jokic-Morris incident on Nov. 8.
The Nuggets defeat the Heat, 120-111, in a game from Nov. 29, 2021.
2020-21 season
Jan. 27, 2021 (in Miami)
Final score: Nuggets 109, Heat 82
Top performers for Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (21 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast) | Jamal Murray (14 pts, 5 ast) | Paul Millsap (11 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast) | Michael Porter Jr. (17 pts, 5 reb, 4 stl)
Top performers for Heat: Kendrick Nunn (17 pts, 2 reb) | Bam Adebayo (15 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) | Precious Achiuwa (10 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk)
Looking back: Denver won its fifth straight thanks to a monster game from Jokic as Miami trudged through its road trip without Butler in the mix. The Nuggets built a 25-point lead in the first half and basically had no problems in this one thanks to Jokic and Michael Porter Jr.’s play off the bench. Butler was on the bench for the Heat, but was out due to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols. This was his ninth straight absence (he’d miss one more game) as Miami registered loss No. 4 in its then-five-game skid.
Nikola Jokic's 21-point, 11-rebound effort gets Denver past Miami on Jan. 27, 2021.
April 14, 2021 (in Denver)
Final score: Nuggets 123, Heat 106
Top performers for Heat: Bam Adebayo (21 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) | Jimmy Butler (13 pts, 3 reb, 9 ast, 3 stl) | Kendrick Nunn (16 pts, 4 reb) | Trevor Ariza (13 pts)
Top performers for Nuggets: Nikola Jokic (17 pts, 10 reb, 11 ast) | Michael Porter Jr. (25 pts, 10 reb, 3 blk) | Aaron Gordon (16 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast) | JaMychal Green (17 pts)
Looking back: Unlike in the matchup in January, Butler was back in the lineup for Miami. Much like the matchup earlier, though, Denver had no problem securing a win. Aside from Jokic registering a triple-double, this game was perhaps most notable as it pertains to Murray. This was the Nuggets’ first game without him after he tore his ACL in an April 12 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Murray would miss the entire 2021-22 season before returning for the 2022-23 campaign, delivering key playoff performances as the Nuggets made their Finals run.
Nikola Jokic records his 56th career triple-double as the Nuggets beat the Heat on April 14, 2021.
