Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

NBA Finals: Heat need to match Nuggets physicality, says Butler

Basketball
Published 02.06.2023
NBA Finals: Heat need to match Nuggets physicality, says Butler
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat prepares to dribble against Bruce Brown of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals.

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat prepares to dribble in opposition to Bruce Brown of the Denver Nuggets through the third quarter in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

infoIcon

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat prepares to dribble in opposition to Bruce Brown of the Denver Nuggets through the third quarter in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler referred to as on his teammates to match Denver Nuggets’ physicality after the Nuggets overpowered the Heat to win recreation one of many NBA Finals on Thursday.

A Denver aspect impressed by the towering determine of Nikola Jokic proved too robust for Miami, main nearly from begin to end on the Ball Arena to clinch a 104-93 victory.

Jokic later stated Denver had been decided to land the “first punch” of the sequence, and Butler admitted Miami would want to up their physicality over the remainder of the sequence.

“They came out with a lot of physicality, and we have to be able to match that,” Butler stated.

“They did their job on their home floor, you have to say that, but we will be ready.

“We will adjust, and we will do some things very differently and come out here and be ready to give more for game two.”

Miami trailed by as many as 24 factors within the third quarter earlier than closing the hole within the fourth.

Butler maintained that Miami’s efficiency would “look way worse than it really is” when the staff pores over footage of recreation one forward of recreation two on Sunday.

AS IT HAPPENED | NBA FINALS, GAME 1, MIAMI HEAT 93-104 DENVER NUGGETS HIGHLIGHTS

“But that’s the only way you’re going to learn from it,” stated Butler, who was restricted to simply 13 factors from 6-of-14 taking pictures in a subdued efficiency.

Butler, who made no journeys to the foul line all through, vowed to take a extra aggressive method in recreation two on Sunday when Miami attempt to sq. the sequence.

“Maybe I have to be a little bit more aggressive,” he stated. “I’ve got to put pressure on the rim. Me with no free throws, that was all on myself, nobody else.

“So we’ll definitely correct that the next game, but only I can do that.”