The 2023 NBA Finals are finally here, with the Western Conference's top seeded Denver Nuggets appearing for the first time in franchise history against a Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat squad looking to win their fourth title (last won in 2013). We'll provide live game and score updates throughout the NBA Finals Game 1 Nuggets-Heat clash.

Despite finishing with the best record out west, most pundits picked the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, or Los Angeles Lakers to advance to the Finals ahead of the playoffs. While head coach Michael Malone eventually took issue with the perceived media bias against his team, the Nuggets largely let their play do the talking. After finishing off the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the first round, Denver downed a largely Chris Paul-less Suns squad in six.

The stage was set for a heavyweight Western Conference Finals matchup against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the Nuggets promptly swept LA, with Jokic and Murray combining for 55 points in the final Game 4. Now, Denver is a heavy favorite to capture their first championship.

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The journey was more difficult for the Heat. After shocking the NBA world by knocking out the East's top seed, the Milwaukee Bucks, in just five games in the first round, Miami stayed hot with a 6-game triumph over the New York Knicks in the semis. They appeared to be smooth sailing right on by the Boston Celtics in the conference finals as well, cruising to a 3-0 lead and a possible sweep.

Not so fast. The Celtics stormed back to even the series, highlighted by Derrick White's heroic buzzer beater as time expired in Game 6. A dramatic, and possibly historic, Game 7 was set for Memorial Day, but only one team showed up.

The Heat, who booked their tickets to Denver prior to officially clinching an NBA Finals berth, dominated a Celtics squad that ran out of steam, in part because of a Jayson Tatum injury in the opening minute. After a couple subpar outings by his own lofty standards, Butler dropped 28 Game 7 points on his way to capturing the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award, while Caleb Martin shined with 26 points and 10 rebounds (Martin finished just one vote shy of Butler for the award).

Follow along with ClutchPoints as we provide live game and score updates from Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets.