Miami Heat

Drake Drops $1.25 Million in Bets on the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals

by
Drake Dreamville

Drake, ever the gambler, has dropped 1.25 million in wagers on the Denver Nuggets.

Hitting Instagram, The Boy showed tickets for the NBA Finals. For $1 million, Drake took the Nuggets to win the series, paying out $1.23 million. He bet $250K on the Nuggets winning 4-1 for the exact series result, bringing back $850K.

Drake’s bets are off to a good start as the Denver Nuggets entered Game 1 of the NBA Finals and did what they have done all season, protect their home court. In their first Finals game ever, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murry led their team to a 104-93 victory over Jimmy Butler and the Miami HEAT.

The game started with force as Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon overpowered smaller defenders of the HEAT for eight points in the first quarter and set the pace for a wire-to-wire win.

Jokic had 27 points, 14 assists, and ten rebounds, adding another triple-double to his playoffs run. Jamal Murray added 26 points and ten assists. Michael Porter Jr. scored 14 and added 13 rebounds.

For the HEAT, Bam Adebayo gave a monster performance of 26 points and 13 rebounds. HEAT star Jimmy Butler only had 13 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field. More alarming for the HEAT was their lack of free throws, only getting to the line twice. Butler spoke on free throws and additional offensive woes after the game.

“Probably because we shot a lot of jump shots, myself probably leading that pack, instead of putting pressure on the rim,” Butler said.. “Getting layups, getting to the free throw line. When you look at it during the game, they all look like the right shots.

“And I’m not saying that we can’t as a team make those, but got to get more layups, got to get more free throws. And whenever you miss and don’t get back, the game gets out of hand kind of quickly. We gave up too many layups, which we also can’t have happen. But that’s it as a whole. We’ve got to attack the rim a lot more, myself included.”

On the other end of the ball, Nuggets coach Mike Malone spoke about his star player, Nikola Jokic.

“I learned a long time ago, the defense tells you what to do, and Nikola never forces it,” Malone said. “If they’re going to give him that kind of attention, he had 10 assists at halftime. Well, he’s going to just pick you apart.”

The HEAT will now attempt to recover and get a win during Game 2 this Sunday.

The post Drake Drops $1.25 Million in Bets on the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: Nuggets’ Size, Jokic’s Triple Double Too Much for Heat in NBA Finals Game 1

by
Nuggets' Size, Jokic's Triple Double Too Much for Heat in Game 1

The Denver Nuggets entered Game 1 of the NBA Finals and did what they have done all season, protect their home court. In their first Finals game ever, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murry led their team to a 104-93 victory over Jimmy Butler and the Miami HEAT.

The game started with force as Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon overpowered smaller defenders of the HEAT for eight points in the first quarter and set the pace for a wire-to-wire win.

Jokic had 27 points, 14 assists, and ten rebounds, adding another triple-double to his playoffs run. Jamal Murray added 26 points and ten assists. Michael Porter Jr. scored 14 and added 13 rebounds.

For the HEAT, Bam Adebayo gave a monster performance of 26 points and 13 rebounds. HEAT star Jimmy Butler only had 13 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field. More alarming for the HEAT was their lack of free throws, only getting to the line twice. Butler spoke on free throws and additional offensive woes after the game.

“Probably because we shot a lot of jump shots, myself probably leading that pack, instead of putting pressure on the rim,” Butler said.. “Getting layups, getting to the free throw line. When you look at it during the game, they all look like the right shots.

“And I’m not saying that we can’t as a team make those, but got to get more layups, got to get more free throws. And whenever you miss and don’t get back, the game gets out of hand kind of quickly. We gave up too many layups, which we also can’t have happen. But that’s it as a whole. We’ve got to attack the rim a lot more, myself included.”

On the other end of the ball, Nuggets coach Mike Malone spoke about his star player, Nikola Jokic.

“I learned a long time ago, the defense tells you what to do, and Nikola never forces it,” Malone said. “If they’re going to give him that kind of attention, he had 10 assists at halftime. Well, he’s going to just pick you apart.”

The HEAT will now attempt to recover and get a win during Game 2 this Sunday.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Nuggets’ Size, Jokic’s Triple Double Too Much for Heat in NBA Finals Game 1 appeared first on The Source.

Did J. Cole Help The Miami Heat Reach The NBA Finals?

by
J. Cole Compares His 'Forest Hills Drive' Era to 'The Last Dance' Championship Run

Basketball fans are on the edge of their seats as Game 1 of the NBA Finals takes place tonight at 5:30 pm PST between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets.

But audiences may not know that J. Cole played a pivotal role in the Miami Heat advancing to the NBA Finals. While he’s mostly known as being a rapper, he’s also a hooper, and his love for the sport shines through in many different avenues. Plus, he’s incredibly plugged in!

Apparently, J. Cole was the one who linked Miami Heat player Caleb Martin with assistant coach Caron Butler. Martin was first cut by the Charlotte Hornets back in 2021. At the time, he began to run pick-up games with J. Cole, and apparently, Martin showed out. The Dreamville CEO proceeded to rave about him to Butler, which resulted in an opportunity for Martin to try out for the Miami Heat.

The tryout went so well that Martin landed a minimum contract for the 2021-2022 NBA season, eventually signing a three-year $20 million deal last year. Fast forward to today, Martin has made a huge difference in the success of the Miami Heat, including their advancement to the Finals. At just 27 years old, Martin was able to really showcase his talents with all eyes on him during Game 7 of the Heat versus Celtics series, beating out NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown.

While Jimmy Butler took home the MVP trophy for the Eastern Conference Finals, Martin was just one vote short after averaging 19 points per game and 60% shooting from the field during the exciting series.

Martin even opened up on how J. Cole was among the first individuals to call him after the Heat triumphed in Game 7 against the Celtics. He tells The Dan LeBatard Show:  “Cole called me right after the game. Everybody knows the story about Cole pretty much now, but Cole called me right after the game, and he was just so hyped jumping up and down.”

Martin also said he probably wouldn’t have gotten this far within J. Cole. “Honestly, the chances of me being here without [J. Cole] making a phone call and getting in touch with Caron, it would be pretty slim to none,” he states. “I definitely feel I wouldn’t be here for sure.”

The post Did J. Cole Help The Miami Heat Reach The NBA Finals? appeared first on The Source.

NBA Finals 2023: Nuggets Vs. Heat Prediction

by

Tonight, the NBA Finals will begin in Denver, Colorado. Overall, it is set to be a matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat. These two teams have taken many different routes to get to the NBA Finals. Firstly, you have the Denver Nuggets who were the best team in the West all season and secured the first seed. Secondly, you have the Heat, who were five minutes away from not even making it to the NBA Playoffs. As an eighth seed, they made the Finals, which is simply unfathomable.

Going into this series, there is a very obvious favorite, and for good reason. If these two teams were in the same conference, they would have played one another in the first round. Although, to completely write off the Heat would be a huge mistake. They boast the talents of Jimmy Butler, who has been phenomenal in the playoffs. According to ESPN, he has averaged 28.5 points per game in the postseason. Moreover, the team also has Bam Adebayo, Caleb Martin, and Duncan Robinson, who have all played their role extremely well.

That said, the Denver Nuggets have the man who should have won MVP this season, Nikola Jokic. As ESPN reports, Jokic is averaging a triple-double in the playoffs. Not to mention, players like Jamal Murray, Bruce Brown, and Michael Porter Jr. have all been lights out. Furthermore, you can’t forget to mention Aaron Gordon, who has kicked it up a notch this season. Overall, the Nuggets are just a complete team. They have systematically decimated all of their opponents, including the Lakers, who they beat in a sweep. One could make the argument that they are currently playing their best basketball of the entire season.

An NBA Finals To Remember 

Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat in 2023 NBA Finals
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: The 2018 NBA Finals MVP trophy sits near the microphone before the press conference for Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to win the 2018 NBA Finals.

With all of this being said, the question remains: who is going to win it all? Ultimately, this is where the Miami Heat Cinderella run comes to an end. Sure, Jimmy Butler has carried the Heat, but if the Celtics series proved anything, it’s that they have glaring weaknesses that the Nuggets can exploit. Moreover, Jokic had Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, and Deandre Ayton in hell in the first three rounds. Simply put, there is no way Adebayo has any shot of stopping him. Jokic will feast in the paint all series long, all while kicking the ball out to shooters like MPJ and Murray. It could get ugly very fast if the Heat go cold from beyond the arc.

Overall, it seems as though this series is destined to be short. The Heat will win one game in Miami, but the Nuggets should be able to handle their business with ease. That said, the Nuggets will be taking home the Larry O’Brien trophy in five games, and they will do so on their home court. For Nikola Jokic, it will be career-defining. For Jimmy Butler, it will just be more bulletin board material for next year.

The post NBA Finals 2023: Nuggets Vs. Heat Prediction appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

J. Cole Called Caleb Martin And Was ‘So Hype’ After The Miami Heat Beat Boston To Advance To The NBA Finals

by

During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, TNT’s Allie LaForce relayed that J. Cole is responsible for Miami Heat breakout star Caleb Martin landing with the team in September 2021.

The Heat pummeled the Boston Celtics, 103-84, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conferences Finals on Monday, May 29, with Martin scoring 26 points and snagging 10 rebounds. Ahead of Miami clashing with the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals, Martin joined The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz to relish his moment in the sun.

“I’ve had a lot of people reach out, show a lot of love,” Martin said. “Obviously, my mom and my family. [J.] Cole called me right after the game. Everybody knows the story about Cole pretty much now, but Cole called me, and we were talking after the game. He was just so hype — jumping up and down.”

Le Batard then asked Martin whether it’s “legitimately 100 percent so that there’s no way that you’re on the Heat if not for J. Cole.”

“Honestly, I think the chances of me being here without him making the phone call and getting in touch with Caron, it’d be pretty slim to none,” Martin confirmed. “I feel like I definitely probably wouldn’t be here. For sure.”

During a press conference on May 31, Martin also shared that Cole had “called me before I got undressed after Game 7,” and the Dreamville rapper is “definitely gonna be at some games” during the Finals (as shared by Naveen Ganglani).

Martin first signed with the Charlotte Hornets as an undrafted free agent out of Nevada in 2019, but he was waived by the team in August 2021.

The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania broke the news in September 2021 that the 27-year-old had signed a two-way contract with the Heat, and Miami locked him up on a three-year extension last July. That contract has never looked better.

The 2023 NBA Finals tip off in Denver on Thursday, June 1. The entire series will air on ABC.

Watch Martin’s full Le Batard interview above.

NBA Finals: Nuggets Vs. Heat Schedule, TV Channel, Start Times

by

After a long and hard-fought season, the NBA Finals are finally upon us. Overall, this Finals will take place in Denver and Miami. The Heat and Nuggets won their respective conferences, and it is clear that they are deserving. Although the Heat were barely an eighth seed, they made it through the conference. Moreover, the Nuggets dominated the Western Conference all year, and deserve to be where they are. Nikola Jokic is an absolute monster, and we can’t wait to see him against Jimmy Butler.

Furthermore, it seems like the Nuggets are very obvious favorites. On one hand, you have a one seed. The other, you have an eighth seed. Had these two teams been in the same conference, they would have played each other in the first round. However, strange things took place, and here they are, ready to fight for an NBA title. If you are a Heat fan, you cannot help but be very excited about what the team has accomplished.

The NBA Finals Are Here

NBA Finals
Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots over Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter of the game at Miami-Dade Arena on February 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. . (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Now that the Finals are here, let us bring you the schedule and start times for these games. Firstly, if you are watching these matches on TV, then you will want to tune into ABC. Secondly, Game 1 is set to go down on Thursday, June 1st. From there, Game 2 is on the 4th, Game 3 is on the 7th, and Game 4 is on the 9th. If Games 5, 6, and 7 are needed, they will take place on the 12th, 15th, and 18th. Games 2 and 7 are the only ones that will be played at 8 PM EST. All of the others will begin at 8:30 PM EST.

Lastly, the Nuggets have home court advantage. This means Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 will take place in Colorado. The others will go down in Miami. No matter what, it seems like we are going to get a very fun series. Let us know who you think will win, in the comments section below.

[Via]

Skip Bayless Apologizes To His Wife

by

Skip Bayless is a man who is very much hated by the sports world. Overall, this is due to the fact that he is a huge hater. Although he has been a journalist for many years, some find his takes to be offensive. Moreover, his LeBron James hatred has certainly carried him over the years. That said, he is wildly entertaining and quite frankly, downright hilarious. Whether it be Twitter or Undisputed, Skip is able to find a way to entertain us. He is like a method actor that would make the likes of Jeremy Strong and Daniel Day-Lewis blush.

Last night, Skip Bayless was watching Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. For much of this series, Skip was pulling for the Heat. Consequently, you can imagine just how worried he was about the lead that the Heat had given up. Of course, the Heat won last night, and subsequently, Bayless was very happy. In fact, he took to Twitter with an apology to his wife. The reason? Well, apparently he had a bit of a tantrum after Game 6 on Saturday night.

Read More: Skip Bayless Flexes Death Row Chain After Sixers & Suns Wins

Skip Bayless Stream Of Consciousness

“Please forgive me, Ernestine. I am sorry about the fit I threw on Saturday night when I came within a tenth of a second of a great pick – Heat in 6,” Bayless began. “I am crazy happy now. YOU WERE RIGHT: You kept saying, ‘There’s still another game left.’ Yes, but … YOU CALLED IT.” In the replies, many fans pointed out that Bayless could have just gone to the next room to apologize. But no. Instead, he took to Twitter and provided us with some entertainment instead. To be honest, we appreciate it.

Now, Skip is saying that the Heat will beat the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. That is going to be a tall task for sure. The Heat are the underdogs, especially as an eighth seed. Moreover, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are going to have something to say. They are a very complete team and will be looking to crush the Heat in four or five. Let us know who you think will take the title, in the comments section below.

Read More: Skip Bayless Wins Over The Internet With Hilarious Phil Jackson Diss

Celtics Roasted After Game 7 Loss To The Heat

by

Last night, the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat played in a Game 7 that could have been historic. Overall, the Heat were up 3-0 in the series. However, they blew their large lead, which made the series go 7. If they lost, they would become the first team to lose a series after being up 3-0. It would have been a horrific collapse that would have been a stain on Jimmy Butler and his legacy. Although, the Heat were able to pull out the win, and they did so in a blowout fashion.

Early in the game, Jayson Tatum went down with an injury. However, he remained in the game and finished it out. That said, he was clearly hampered as he only managed to score 14 points. He was not good for large portions of the match, and the Celtics felt those effects pretty immediately. Meanwhile, the Heat were able to take advantage of these weaknesses and busted the game wide open in the fourth quarter. Consequently, they are now off to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2020 NBA Bubble.

Celtics Lose In A Blowout

Jimmy Butler and company now get to play against the Denver Nuggets, who were fantastic this season. The Nuggets will get home court, where they have not lost a game all postseason. Overall, they will be looking to continue that trend. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray leading the way, it does seem like the Heat are massive underdogs. After all, they are an eighth seed that was a quarter away from losing in the play-in round to the Chicago Bulls.

Twitter Reacts

As for the Boston Celtics, they continue to be roasted on social media. Fans around the NBA do not have much love for Boston. This can be said about the NFL, MLB, and even the NHL, where the Boston Bruins are despised. Overall, the Celtics demise has been televised, and the people could not be any happier. Let us know what you thought about last night’s game, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

SOURCE SPORTS: Denver Nuggets Open NBA Finals as Sports Betting Favorite at -360

by
FxV 1rvaUAI7d1H

The Miami HEAT is headed to Denver to play the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. The series’ opening lines have the Nuggets as a -360 favorite.

ESPN’s Sports Betting Insider Doug Kezirian also notes the Nuggets open Game 1 of the series as an eight-point favorite.

“Miami’s playoff run has really solidified the fact that they’re a team built for the postseason,” David Lieberman, lead NBA oddsmaker for Caesars Sportsbook, told ESPN. “We’ve seen it a couple of times over the past three seasons, but everyone seemed to forget about that over the course of the regular season. [Jimmy] Butler and [coach Erik] Spoelstra are able to find a new gear come playoff time.”

According to Draftkings Sportsbook, Nikola Jokic opens as a -360 favorite for MVP. Followed by Jimmy Butler at +330, Jamal Murry at +2000, and Bam Adebayo at +4000.

You can learn more about the close of the East Finals here.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Denver Nuggets Open NBA Finals as Sports Betting Favorite at -360 appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: HEAT Blow Out Celtics to Win East Finals Game 7

by
HEAT Blow Out Celtics to Win East Finals Game 7

The Miami Heat are moving on, as the Boston Celtics could not be the first team to come back in a series after trailing 0-3. The HEAT routed the Celtics on their home court in Game 7 to a final score of 103-84.

a

The HEAT is now the second eight-seed all-time to make the NBA Finals, following the 1999 New York Knicks. The win comes a year after the HEAT fell to the Celtics in Game 7 in last year’s conference finals, which Butler believed then this year’s win would happen.

To close out the HEAT, Butler had 28 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. He received assistance from Caleb Martin, who added 26 points and 10 rebounds, going 11-for-16 from the field.

“I just know why Coach Pat and Coach Spoelstra wanted me to be here,” Butler said. “And that’s to compete at a high level and to win championships.

“I know that the group that they put around me at all times is going to give me an opportunity to do so. … I know the work that we all put into it, so I know what we’re capable of. Nobody is satisfied. We haven’t done anything. We don’t play just to win the Eastern Conference; we play to win the whole thing.”

On the other end of the court, Celtics swingman Jayson Tatum turned his ankle on the game’s opening play, limiting his ability to play and be effective comfortably. Finishing with 14 points, Tatum referred to his play as “a shell of myself.”

Tatum added, “It was tough to move. Just frustrating, it happening on the first play.”

The HEAT now heads into the NBA Finals against the Western Conference Champion Denver Nuggets. The series will begin on Thursday.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: HEAT Blow Out Celtics to Win East Finals Game 7 appeared first on The Source.