Last updated: June 8, 10:00 AM (BST)

The stage for the NBA Finals is finally set as Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets are set to go head to head in an intense clash for the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship trophy.

Here's everything basketball fans need to know about the swiftly approaching NBA Finals schedule, including the dates, exact start times, and which TV channel will show the events.

Who are competing in the NBA Finals 2023?

Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets will be representing the Western Conference and have even emerged as the favorites to win the series with the best regular season record for the West. They are led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who has thoroughly proved that he is the best basketball player in the world, averaging 29.9 points and 10.3 assists per game in the playoffs.

The Nuggets secured their NBA Finals place with ease. They won the Western Conference Finals with a surprising sweepstake 4-0 over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Denver Nuggets have advanced to their first NBA Finals in franchise history and have everything to prove with their star-quality team and ace defenders.

Miami Heat

Miami Heat has had a tough ride this postseason, as they represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals 2023. The Heat made it to the NBA playoffs through the NBA 2023 play-in tournament, as they finished the regular season as the No. 7 seed in the East. During the play-in, they lost to the Atlanta Hawks but won against the Chicago Bulls to secure the No. 8 seed. The Heat also knocked out championship favorites Milwaukee Bucks within five games and New York Knicks in six games.

Their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against Boston Celtics was nail-biting for fans, as their slot in the Finals hung in the balance. Jimmy Butler helped secure the Game 7 win as they triumphed 4-3 over the Boston Celtics.

2023 NBA Finals Schedule: Denver Nuggets vs Miami Heat

The 2023 NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 1 and finish around Sunday, June 18, no later. There will be two full days of rest between each game, with the exception of Games 3-4.

Which team are you betting on?

Catch the full schedule for the NBA finals games. Denver Nuggets have earned the home-court advantage for the first two games due to having a better regular season record. Proceedings begin on June 1 in Denver. All times listed will be in ET; match winners will be in bold.

Nuggets lead 1-1

Game 1: June 1 (8:30 AM), Denver - Nuggets 104, Heat 93

Game 2: June 4 (8:00 AM), Denver - Heat 111, Nuggets 108

Game 3: June 7 (8:30 AM), Miami - Nuggets 109, Heat 94

Game 4: June 9 (8:30 AM), Miami

Game 5: June 12 (8:30 AM), Denver*

Game 6: June 15 (8:30 AM), Miami*

Game 7: June 18 (8:00 AM), Denver*

*these games will only occur if necessary

Where To Watch The NBA Finals 2023

Don't miss out on the action! All NBA Finals games will be aired nationally on ABC. Fans can also tune in online to ESPN+, the ESPN app, and WatchESPN to catch all the matches.

Who are the favorites for the NBA Championship?

Considering their NBA regular season record, the Denver Nuggets are currently the favorites to take home the trophy and the glory, consistently winning their matchups with a solid margin, like 4-1 victory against Minnesota Timberwolves in the First Round Series and 4-2 against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Check out our NBA betting guide for info and guidance on placing bets on the NBA!