NBA
During the first three games of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Nuggets have scored 48 more points in the paint than the Heat
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
All posts by Zach WolpinUpdated09 Jun 2023
During the 2023 NBA Finals, it’s been clear that the Miami Heat are undersized in comparison to the Denver Nuggets. In Game 3 the Nuggets outrebounded the Heat, 58-33. Nikola Jokic had 21 rebounds for Denver and he gets his work done in the paint on offense. During the first three games of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Nuggets have scored 48 more points in the paint than the Heat. That’s the most through 3 Finals games since Shaquille O’Neal in 2001.
While Nikola Jokic is a large part of this stat, the Nuggets have been playing exceptional team basketball. Game 2 slipped away from them in the fourth quarter. Other than that, the Nuggets have been rolling during the Finals. Nuggets fans can credit the outstanding efforts of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in Game 3 for the 2-1 series lead.
Tonight, Miami will host Denver for Game 4. The Heat desperately need a win to keep the series alive. Going down 3-1 and heading back to Denver to Game 5 would not be ideal. NBA betting sites have the Heat at (+136) to win Game 4 at home.
The Nuggets have scored 48 more points in the paint than the Heat, the most through 3 Finals games since Shaquille O’Neal was in the middle in 2001. pic.twitter.com/zieBASbluL
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 8, 2023
Nikola Jokic could cement his legacy as one of the greatest centers of all-time this postseason
Denver having 48 more paint points than Miami through the first three games is troubling for the Heat. So far in the Finals, Miami hasn’t had an answer for Denver’s front-court players. Nikola Jokic gets whatever he wants on offense and facilitates for his teammates as well.
Aaron Gordon has also had a solid first three games in the Finals. Miami’s starting lineup cannot match up with Denver’s size on offense. Gordon easily takes advantage when he has someone like Kevin Love or Max Strus on him. Jamal Murray takes more jump shots and three-pointers, but he also has elite touch neat the rim.
It’s going to take a full team effort tonight for Miami to win Game 4. They barely survived their win in Game 2 and the Nuggets would love to end the series at home in Game 5. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are going to have to leave it all out on the court tonight for a win.
