The upcoming 2023 NBA Finals present a contrasting matchup between two teams with different paths to the championship. On one side, we have the Denver Nuggets, who are making their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals and are considered the favorites. Their journey to the finals has been impressive, showcasing their strength and skill throughout the playoffs. On the other side, we have the Miami Heat, a franchise with a rich history and a successful track record over the past two decades. Despite entering the postseason through the play-in tournament, the Heat have proven themselves as a formidable opponent.

Taking a look back at the NBA Finals over the past 20 years, the Miami Heat stand out with the most appearances, reaching the finals seven times in the last decade. This surpasses the Golden State Warriors, who had six appearances during that period. Following closely behind with five appearances each are the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Boston Celtics have made three appearances, while the Dallas Mavericks have made it to the finals twice. Other teams like the New Jersey Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks have each had one finals appearance, with the Raptors and Bucks capturing the championship.

In terms of championships won, the Golden State Warriors lead the pack with four titles in the past eight years. The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers come next with three championships each during the same period. The San Antonio Spurs have secured four championships in the past 21 years, narrowly missing out on the top spot.

Looking at the most common NBA Finals matchups of the past 20 years, the rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors stands out as the most frequent, accounting for 20% of the matchups since 2002. Other matchups that have occurred multiple times in the finals include Mavericks-Heat, Celtics-Lakers, and Spurs-Heat, with each matchup happening twice in the past decade.

It’s worth noting some notable NBA Finals from the past 20 years, such as the Miami Heat’s victory over the Dallas Mavericks in 2006, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ historic comeback against the Golden State Warriors in 2016, and the Toronto Raptors’ triumph over the Golden State Warriors in 2019.

Looking at the specific matchups between the Nuggets and the Heat this season, the Nuggets have had the upper hand, winning their last six meetings. Three of those victories were by double digits. The Heat’s last victory against the Nuggets came on August 1, 2020. In the current season, the Nuggets secured wins against the Heat, both at home (124-119) and on the road (112-108).

With the Nuggets’ recent success against the Heat and their strong performance throughout the playoffs, they enter the NBA Finals as the betting favorites. However, the history and experience of the Miami Heat cannot be overlooked, making this a compelling and highly anticipated championship series.