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A strained calf and toe sprain have sidelined Jimmy Butler for eight games and counting, but the Miami Heat star remains optimistic about the immediate future and is encouraged he’s feeling less pain now than has been the case across two issues in a month. Just don’t ask him about his unavailability through injury deeming him ineligible to win end-of-season awards, mind. Continue reading “Jimmy Butler happy to close in on injury return, unbothered by awards ineligibility”
The defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets open play in the new 2023-24 regular season overnight against LeBron James and the Lakers, in one of two intriguing Western Conference matchups primed for television viewing. Before then, I rewind back and reflect upon some fond memories for Denver as they clinched their first NBA title on home soil four months ago beyond a Miami team who fell short after exceeding expectations en route to an unlikely Finals trip. Continue reading “Rewind: As the new NBA season tips off tonight, a look back – Denver ended last term on top in five-game Finals series”
Nikola Jokic’s 12-point third quarter saw the wheels turn in motion for a determined Denver side, who surged ahead to a 19-point lead before the end of the third quarter and didn’t relinquish it this time around as they silenced Kaseya Center with a series-altering away victory against Miami overnight. Continue reading “Nuggets 109-94 Heat: Jokic-Murray do it all again as Malone’s men take Game 3”
After hitting six of their 13 total three-pointers in the final quarter to threaten a late Game 1 comeback, that sequence foreshadowed a fiery start three days later as the Heat tied the NBA Finals. Miami began hot from deep before finishing with staunch defence down the stretch as Bam Adebayo and Gabe Vincent were key en route to a road win, despite Nikola Jokic’s 41-point outing. Continue reading “Heat 111-108 Nuggets: Adebayo leads by example on both ends, Miami steal Game 2”
How would the Denver Nuggets fare physically after a nine-day break between games? Refreshed and racing out of the blocks, as Aaron Gordon had 12 points in the first quarter and that infectious energy set the tone en route to a welcome series-opening win at home against a Miami Heat side struggling quite badly with their three-point shooting but defiantly still lingered dangerously late on.
Continue reading “Nuggets 104-93 Heat: Jokic’s triple-double on Finals debut sees Denver win Game 1”
Conference Finals MVP Jimmy Butler posted 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a trio of steals – but small forward Caleb Martin shone with his third 20-plus point showing in the series. Erik Spoelstra’s Miami Heat ended Boston’s hopes of an improbable comeback, in TD Garden no less, setting up their second NBA Finals trip in four seasons as the Nuggets finally found out their opponent. Continue reading “Miami set up Denver showdown in the Finals after Game 7 drubbing of Celtics”
Erik Spoelstra’s Heat team joined the Denver Nuggets in earning a 3-0 Conference Finals series lead after blasting the Celtics into submission on their Miami return, having snatched the initiative in Boston. Point guard Gabe Vincent led the way with a new career-high 29 points, as their role players stepped up in style as they’re now one game away from another NBA Finals trip.
Continue reading “Vincent vanquishes Celtics as Miami join Denver with commanding 3-0 series lead”
Jimmy Butler had 35 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds – armed with clutch plays late on – as the Miami Heat swiftly erased a nine-point half-time deficit en route to a surging Game 1 East Finals victory on the road against Boston, who began well but finished with a whimper at TD Garden overnight.
Continue reading “Heat 123-116 Celtics: Jimmy Butler burns bright as Mazzulla’s men stumble late on”
Jimmy Butler recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals in 43 minutes – playing through a rolled ankle late – as Miami Heat profited from turnovers, overcoming a sluggish start to overwhelm the New York Knicks 108-101 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final matchup on Sunday night. Continue reading “Jimmy Butler battles through pain barrier as Heat start East semis with road win”
Having both endured an inefficient night as Atlanta bested them on Tuesday, Jimmy Butler and Chicago’s own Max Strus combined for 61 points with clutch moments galore to help Miami overcome a six-point fourth quarter deficit against a reactive Bulls team, punching their postseason ticket. Top seed Milwaukee await them on Sunday night in Game 1, to finish a whirlwind week.
Continue reading “Heat 102-91 Bulls: Butler, Strus combine for 62 points as Miami lock up No. 8 seed”
Trae Young led the way with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Atlanta Hawks started fast and finished assertively en route to a double-digit road win in Miami during the league’s maiden play-in tournament matchup of the season overnight. The result secures their standing as the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed, and Boston [2] await them in Game 1 this weekend. Continue reading “Hawks 116-105 Heat: Young silences trade noise as Snyder’s men stun Miami to secure playoff berth”
After finishing the top seed in last season’s Eastern Conference and finding themselves a missed three-pointer away from a second NBA Finals trip in three years – losing a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics – Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and co are raring to go ahead of the new campaign, one which poses many questions as far as their long-term future is concerned. Continue reading “No excuses, Miami Heat looking to pick up where they left off as preseason inbound”
Mo and Sports 