KEY PLAYER MISSES PRACTICE AHEAD OF HEAT-NUGGETS GAME

On Sunday evening, the Miami Heat will be back at Ball Arena to face off against the Denver Nuggets for Game 2 of the NBA Finals in Colorado.  

The Heat lost Game 1 by a score of 104-93, and they struggled from the start of the game trailing by 17 points at halftime. 

Caleb Martin, who has been one of the team's best players during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, missed practice on Saturday due to an illness. 

Via The Heat on Satuday: "UPDATE: Caleb Martin (illness) will not attend today’s team practice."

Martin has averaged 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest while shooting 54.9% from the field and 44.0% from the three-point range through the first 19 games of the postseason. 

However, the former Nevada and N.C. State star only had three points, four rebounds, one steal and one block while shooting 1/7 from the field in 25 minutes of playing time in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. 

The Heat have had a miraculous run through the Playoffs, as they are only the second eighth seed to ever reach the Finals. 

Through the first three rebounds, they beat the Milwaukee Bucks (first seed), New York Knicks (fifth seed) and Boston Celtics (second seed). 

As for the Nuggets, they are the first seed in the Western Conference and defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (eighth seed), Phoenix Suns (fourth seed) and Los Angeles Lakers (seventh seed). 

They beat the Heat in all three matchups this season. 

More on the Miami Heat can be read here 

2023-06-03T19:43:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd