The Denver Nuggets opened as +475 favorites to repeat as NBA champions at Caesars Sportsbook for next season.

The Nuggets were the No. 6 favorite heading into this postseason, with 11-1 odds of winning the title. 

The Celtics (+575), Bucks (+700), and Suns (+850) also have single-digit odds for next season.

The Heat are at 18-1 to win the title. 

The Denver Nuggets have defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 to win the 2023 NBA Finals.

The Nuggets finish their championship run with a 16-4 record. Denver was the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but their uneven play to close the regular season led to some speculation of whether they were capable of winning a title.

But Nikola Jokic has been the clear best player throughout the playoffs and was particularly dominant in The Finals. Jokic finished the playoffs as the leader in total points, rebounds and assists, which has never happened previously in NBA history. Jokic was also named Finals MVP.

Jamal Murray returned from the torn ACL he suffered in 2021 this season and began to fully regain his form in the playoffs.

Tyler Herro is listed as out for Game 5 of the NBA Finals due to a broken hand.

Herro, who was at one point expected to return this series, suffered the injury in Game 1 of the first round. 

Tyler Herro has been ruled out for Game 3 of the NBA Finals as he recovers from a broken hand.

"We're taking it one day at a time. And I know that sounds like a cliché. He did the practice with the group. He is going to do a full-contact workout after this. We'll evaluate that ... he has not been cleared yet, so that's where we are. But we're encouraged by the work that he's been doing," said Erik Spoelstra on Tuesday.

Herro has been out since suffering the injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Bucks.

The Miami Heat evened The Finals at 1-1 with their 111-108 Game 2 win over the Denver Nuggets. The Heat have been lauded as one of the more mentally tough teams in recent memory. Butler was asked about Miami's toughness and resilience during this playoff run.

"I just think nobody cares on our team," said Butler. "We're not worried about what anybody thinks. We're so focused in on what we do well and who we are as a group that at the end of the day, that's what we fall back on. Make-or-miss shots, we're going to be who we are because we're not worried about anybody else. That's how it's been all year long, and that's not going to change.

"So that's what I think it is. I think it's the 'I don't give a damn' factor."

There is no update to Tyler Herro's status for Game 2 as he recovers from a broken hand.

"We're doing this game-by-game. I'll let you know [Sunday]. The status hasn't changed. You can read into that," said Erik Spoelstra on Saturday.

Herro is expected to return for Game 3 should he miss Game 2.

Caleb Martin also missed Saturday's practice due to an illness. 

Julius Randle underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle, the New York Knicks announced on Saturday.

Randle is expected to be ready by training camp.

Randle will be able to resume basketball activities later this summer.

Randle missed the end of the regular season due to a sprained ankle, then re-aggravated the injury in the playoffs. 

There is a possibility that Tyler Herro could return for Game 2 of the NBA Finals, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Herro will ramp up to his workouts to see how his surgically repaired right hand holds up before making a final decision.

Should Herro not return for Game 2, there is increasing confidence that he would be ready for Game 3. 

Eric Lewis was not selected among one of the 12 referees who will work the NBA Finals while the league investigates whether he used a Twitter account to defend himself.

Lewis had been chosen to work the Finals in each of the past four seasons.

It has not been determined if Lewis was using the account, which utilizes the name "blair cuttliff." The account was deactivated briefly last week but was active again Wednesday evening.

"Regarding Eric Lewis and the social media posts, we are continuing to review the matter and he will not be working the Finals," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Thursday.

Tyler Herro will miss Game 1 of the NBA Finals as he recovers from a broken hand, announced Erik Spoelstra.

It was reported earlier this week that Herro could return for Game 3.