Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images. Pictured: Mascot Rocky the Mountain Lion of the Denver Nuggets.
The 2023 NBA Finals tip Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET with the Denver Nuggets making their debut on the championship stage against the history making Miami Heat.
How unlikely was this matchup, you ask? FanDuel had the matchup listed at 100-1 at the NBA All-Star break. Now here we are waiting to see which team will make history; either the Nuggets will win their first championship in franchise history, or the Heat will be the first No. 8 seed to do so.
Game spreads, totals, player props, series spreads, first baskets. There’s something for everyone, and our NBA staff has (almost) every bet covered. Consider this your one-stop shop for everything you’ll need for the NBA Finals
If the playoffs have taught us anything, it’s that Game 1s are anything but predictable, especially if the Heat are involved. Action’s NBA staff has best bets, player props for series opening game of the 2023 NBA Finals. Check out their previews and picks below.
Our analysts got their bets in early with half of the matchup set for nearly a week before the start of the NBA Finals. Brandon Anderson, Matt Moore and Joe Dellera offer up the the picks they made right away plus early analysis on the series and trends on rest vs rust in the Finals.
Action Network’s resident researcher Evan Abrams did a deep dive into all things NBA Finals using tools from Bet Labs and historical trends.
For those of you looking for props — let’s be honest, everyone is looking to bet props in the playoffs — Joe Dellera has a props forecast breaking down the key prop bets he’s making for the NBA Finals series. Plus, our staff gives out 13 more series props they like ahead of Heat vs Nuggets.
Odds as of Monday, June 1 and via BetMGM.
| Player | Finals MVP Odds |
|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | -350 |
| Jimmy Butler | +350 |
| Jamal Murray | +1000 |
| Caleb Martin | +3000 |
| Bam Adebayo | +5000 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | +20000 |
| Aaron Gordon | +20000 |
| Bruce Brown | +25000 |
| Max Strus | +25000 |
| Gabe Vincent | +25000 |
| Kyle Lowry | +25000 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | +50000 |
| Kevin Love | +50000 |
Last season it was Stephen Curry who rose to the occasion and won NBA Finals MVP. This season, Jokic is in the driver’s seat to land the Bill Russell Trophy at -350 ahead of Game 1.
Jokic’s current NBA Finals MVP price is the highest for any player over the past 20 years. Only two other players have been -200 over that span: Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
How would you rate this article?
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Action Network makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
Want free access to exclusive DraftKings Sportsbook betting picks from DraftKings analysts like Steve Buchanan, Julian Edlow, Garion Thorne, Nick Friar, Jeff
If you’ve been following the early season dynamics of the NFL, you might wonder: Could the Miami Dolphins trip up in their home opener against the Denver Bron
The New York Giants stunned the Arizona Cardinals with an electrifying come-from-behind victory. However, the triumph was tainted by a blow to their star player
