Jokic and Murray Shine In Game 1

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Developing Stories 📰

The Nuggets defeated the Heat 104-93 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. They hope to take a 2-0 advantage as the teams square off on Sunday for Game 2. Game 1 of the Heat vs Nuggets series wasn’t really in doubt past the ten-minute mark. Denver led by nine after the first quarter, 17 at halftime, and 21 after three. They now own a perfect 9-0 record at home in the NBA playoffs. Nikola Jokic continued his record-setting run with his ninth triple-double of the 2023 postseason. Jokic finished Game 1 with a team-high 27 points, along with 14 assists, and 10 rebounds. As he has throughout the postseason, Jamal Murray proved a perfect running-mate to Jokic against Miami. The Canadian had 26 points on 11-22 shooting from the field plus ten assists, and six rebounds, putting him just four rebounds short of his own triple double.

Jimmy Butler Struggles last night as did many of his teammates. He finished with just 13 points on 6 of 14 shooting. Bam Adebayo had 26 points with 13 rebounds while shooting 13 for 25Gabe Vincent added 19. The Heat could not get much else from the rest. Caleb Martin had just three points while shooting 1 of 7. Max Strus scored no points while going 0 for 10 from the field. Kyle Lowry added 11 points off the bench, and Haywood Highsmith had 18 but the Heat need to shoot better in Game 2.

Miami finished with a 40.6 percent shooting rate while also hitting 33.3 percent of their shots from the triples while only shot two free throws. Adebayo is an integral part of this offense, and someone the Heat need to continue his strong play. The defense failed in their first attempt to stop the Nuggets. Murray and Jokic delivered this strategy so well they created quality shots all night. Somehow the Heat cut the deficit to nine with 2:34 left to play but ran out of energy. The Heat will cover the spread if they can excel on offense and hit their shots.

Jokic is asserting his dominance and he enhances his teammates as well. Jokic constantly found open shooters, allowing the Nuggets to convert their field-goal opportunities from all over the floor. Murray continued to dominate. His first-half performance helped establish the standard. Murray played efficiently on the court. Porter excelled on both ends of the floor. His ability to hit his shots consistently while also blocking Butler from hitting his chances was on full display. Gordon continued to fill his role as an excellent supporting player. The Nuggets had the advantage from the start and hoped to continue to play efficiently. The Nuggets will cover the spread if they continue to execute their playcalling on offense and the defense must once again contain Butler.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 1987 The Seattle Mariners draft Ken Griffey Jr. #1.

1935 Future Baseball HOF Babe Ruth announces his retirement as a player at 40 years old.

Nikola Jokic has triple-double, Jamal Murray scores 26 in Nuggets’ Game 1 win.

Adam Silver indicated that he has reached a decision regarding Ja Morant but will wait until after the NBA Finals to announce his punishment.

Red Sox’s Chris Sale exits start early with left shoulder soreness. Sale will get an MRI on his left shoulder.

Tom Brady reiterated Thursday that he has no plans to play in the NFL again after retiring in February.

The SEC will be going with an 8-game conference schedule in 2024 and without divisions.

Toledo transfer Rayj Dennis, the reigning MAC Player of the Year has committed to Baylor for the 2023 season.

Zach Edey, the consensus National Player of The Year, withdraws from NBA draft and will be returning to Purdue for another season.

Patrick Kane will be shelved for 4-6 months after undergoing a hip resurfacing procedure.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Athletics at Marlins

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oakland's last 7 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Oakland's last 14 games

• Miami is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Oakland

• Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oakland

⚾️ Cardinals at Pirates

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road

• Pittsburgh is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing St. Louis

• Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against St. Louis

⚾️ Phillies at Pirates

• Philadelphia is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Washington

• Philadelphia is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Washington

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia

• The total has gone OVER in 13 of Washington's last 16 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

⚾️ Blue Jays at Mets

• NY Mets is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

• NY Mets is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Toronto

⚾️ Angels at Astros

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games

• Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against LA Angels

• Houston is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games at home

⚾️ Tigers at White Sox

• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Detroit's last 8 games when playing Chi White Sox

• Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 5 games

⚾️ Guardians at Twins

• Cleveland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Minnesota

• Cleveland is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road

⚾️ Braves at Diamondbacks

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing Arizona

⚾️ Cubs at Padres

• Chi Cubs is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Diego 

⚾️ Yankees at Dodgers

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games

🏒 Panthers at Knights

• Florida is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

• Vegas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Florida

• Vegas is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Florida

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

34% of bets and 66% of money is on STL -1.5 (

46% of bets and 77% of money is on UNDER 8 SEA at TEX

45% of bets and 69% of money is on CWS -1.5 (

54% of bets and 83% of money is on COL -1.5 (

54% of bets and 70% of money is on UNDER 8.5 CLE at MIN

55% of bets and 71% of money is on LAA +110

58% of bets and 84% of money is on OVER 8.5 CHC at SD

38% of bets and 59% of money is on NYY +120

23% of bets and 62% of money is on UNDER 8 BAL at SF

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

BOS (SP) Chris Sale | Day-to-Day - Shoulder, will undergo MRI today

BOS (SS) Yu Chang | 10 Day IL - Wrist, will try throwing again today

BOS (2B) Christian Arroyo | 10 Day IL - Hamstring, unsure if he will be activated this weekend

BOS (CF) Adam Duvall | 60 Day IL - Wrist, started in CF in Triple-A yesterday

CIN (RF) Henry Ramos | 10 Day IL

CIN (SP) Nick Lodolo | 15 Day IL - Leg, will remain in walking boot for 2 weeks

CIN (CF) TJ Friedl | Day-to-Day - Hamstring

CLE (SP) Tristian McKenzie | 60 Day IL - Shoulder, set to join starting rotation Sunday

COL (RF) Kris Bryant | 10 Day IL 

HOU (DH) Michael Brantley | 10 Day IL - Shoulder, hit off tee yesterday

MIA (2B) Luis Arraez | Day-to-Day - Left yesterday’s game with apparent leg injury

MIL (SP) Wade Miley | 15 Day IL - Lat, could soon begin throwing bullpens

MIN (RF) Max Kepler | Day-to-Day - Pulled from yesterday’s game with a migrane

MIN (SS) Carlos Corea | Day-to-Day - Aggravated heel in yesterday’s game

NYY (SP) Carlos Rodon | 60 Day IL - Back, will throw another bullpen session today

PHI (RP) Jose Alvarado | 15 Day IL - Elbow, will begin rehab assignment in Triple-A on Saturday

PHI (1B) Alec Bohm | 10 Day IL - Hamstring

SD (RP) Luis Garcia | 15 Day IL 

TEX (C) Mitch Garver | 10 Day IL - Knee, started in Triple-A yesterday

TOR (DH) Brandon Belt | Day-to-Day - Illness

TOR (C) Danny Jansen | 10 Day IL - Groin, did some light jogging yesterday

Weekend Picks 🔒

Angels/Astros Under 7.5 | The Astros pitching has been lights out this season. Valdez has an Era of 2.38 and the Angels offense struggled yesterday. Ohtani is going to lock down here and that will lead to this game being lower scoring overall.

Knights/Panthers Under 5.5: Both these teams have inexperience and nerves entering the Stanley Cup. We expect them to play more conservatively. Combine that with both goalkeepers playing hot this should be a low-scoring affair.