Nuggets vs. Heat live score, updates, highlights from Game 3 of NBA Finals

By | June 7, 2023
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Game 3 of the NBA Finals is set to tip off and we have ourselves a series after the Heat stole Game 2 on the road.

The Nuggets have surrendered home court advantage for the moment as they try and take it back as the series shifts to Miami.

Nikola Jokic is coming off of a 41-point outburst but without much help from his supporting cast, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Heat’s red-hot shooting night. Miami is coming off of a game in which it shot a blistering 48.6 percent from 3-point range, and it hopes to carry that momentum onto its home floor.

Will Denver bounce back and regain the series lead? Or will the Heat continue to defy all odds and place themselves two wins from an NBA title?

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Game 3. Follow along with all of the action right here.

MORE: Breaking down early advantages for Nuggets, Heat in NBA Finals

Nuggets vs. Heat score

Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Nuggets 24 29 29 — —
Heat 24 24 20 — —

Nuggets vs. Heat live score, updates, highlights from Game 3

Fourth quarter

10:46 p.m.: And there it is. Nikola Jokic has delivered the first 30-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist game in NBA history.

The Nuggets are in full control, leading 99-83 with 3:24 to play.

10:33 p.m.: Game 3 has turned into the Christian Braun show. (You know, aside from Nikola Jokic having 30 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists.) The rookie has exploded for 15 points off the bench, capped off by out-muscling Jimmy Butler on a layup in transition. The Nuggets are up 93-75 with eight minutes left in the game.

10:30 p.m.: The last four players with a 25-point, 20-rebound game in the NBA Finals are Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird and… Nikola Jokic. This man is incredible.

End of third quarter: Nuggets 82, Heat 68

10:19 p.m.: Christian Braun is making his presence felt off the bench. The rookie has had two cutting layups and a steal and slam to help Denver maintain its lead. The Nuggets are up 82-68 after three quarters.

10:14 p.m.: The Nuggets are starting to pull away, leading by 16 points, 78-62, with 1:59 to play in the quarter. Miami hasn’t had any answer for Nikola Jokic all night, up to 28 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. The Heat’s 3-point shots aren’t falling, shooting 7-for-23 from beyond the arc. 

10:00 p.m.: The Nuggets have opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take a 59-48 lead. Nikola Jokic threw a beautiful dime to Aaron Gordon on an alley-oop to give him eight assists on the night.

Halftime: Nuggets 53, Heat 48

9:40 p.m.: We have ourselves a physical battle in Miami as the Nuggets enter halftime with a slim five-point lead.

Jamal Murray already has more points than he did in Game 2, catching fire with 20 points and three 3s in the first half. He and Nikola Jokic have dominated the first half, as the superstar big is flirting with a triple-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Bam Adebayo is bringing the energy for the Heat with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jimmy Butler had one hot stint at the end of the first quarter and has 14 points on the night, but Miami is going to need more from its star.

The Heat are shooting just 39.1 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from 3.

9:33 p.m.: BAM SLAM. Bam Adebayo throws down a monster putback dunk over Nikola Jokic!

9:23 p.m.: Caleb Martin and Jamal Murray are trading blows. The Eastern Conference Finals standout scored eight points in a row for the Heat, providing a spark for the first time in this series. Murray answered right back with a pair of 3-pointers to keep the Nuggets out in front, 41-37, with 5:36 left in the quarter.

9:14 p.m.: It’s all Bam Adebayo to start the second quarter. The Heat star center has scored five straight points and blocked Aaron Gordon on a layup attempt at the rim. It’s still all tied up at 29-29 with 8:58 to play in the half.

End of first quarter: Nuggets 24, Heat 24

9:06 p.m.: After 12 minutes, we are all square.

Jimmy Butler started to heat up at the end of the first quarter, scoring six straight points to bring him up to 10 on the night. The Heat still have no answer for Nikola Jokic, who stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

8:57 p.m.: The Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray two-man game has put the Nuggets out in front. Denver leads 20-16 with 2:54 remaining in the frame. Jokic has dominated the paint, up to eight points and seven rebounds in a flash. The Nuggets’ defense is disrupting the Heat, forcing Miami to 5-of-18 shooting from the field so far.

8:46 p.m.: The Heat have jumped out to a slight lead in the first five minutes, up 14-12 with 6:24 to play in the first quarter. Both teams are playing with pace, pushing the tempo off of misses.

Bam Adebayo is looking aggressive on the offensive end again, scoring four quick points. Max Strus has already dished out four assists, which is more than double his per-game average. Jamal Murray wasted no time to get going in this one with a game-high eight points.

Pregame

8:00 p.m.: The Heat will start Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love and Bam Adebayo.

8:00 p.m.: The Nuggets will stick with the same starting five: Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic.

What channel is Nuggets vs. Heat on?

  • Date: Wednesday, June 7
  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live streaming: Sling TV

Nuggets vs. Heat will air on ABC. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA Finals on Sling TV, which is now offering half off your first month! Stream the sports you love starting at just $20 in your first month with Sling Orange to catch all the games on ABC.

SIGN UP FOR SLING: English | Spanish

What time is Nuggets vs. Heat tonight?

  • Date: Wednesday, June 7
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT

Nuggets vs. Heat will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 7. The game will be played at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Nuggets vs. Heat odds

Denver is a 2.5-point favorite heading into Game 3.

Game Lines Nuggets Heat
Spread -2.5 +2.5
Moneyline -145 +120

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, an authorized gaming operator of the NBA. Click HERE to sign up.

Nuggets vs. Heat schedule

Here is the complete schedule for the 2023 NBA Finals:

Date Game Time (ET) TV channel
June 1 Nuggets 104, Heat 93 8:30 p.m. ABC
June 4 Heat 111, Nuggets 108 8 p.m. ABC
June 7 Game 3 8:30 p.m. ABC
June 9 Game 4 8:30 p.m. ABC
June 12 Game 5 8:30 p.m. ABC
June 15 Game 6* 8:30 p.m. ABC
June 18 Game 7* 8 p.m. ABC

*If necessary

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