Erik Spoelstra has preached on the value of adversity for months, not shying away from saying that he helped the Miami Heat reach this NBA Finals.

And now Denver is also dealing with a small sample.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals is Wednesday night in Miami, the series between the eighth-seeded Heat and the top-seeded Nuggets tied at one game apiece. It got that way after Miami rallied to win Game 2 in Denver 111-108 on Sunday night, a result that led Nuggets coach Michael Malone to openly share his frustrations, mostly over the foul. of discipline in many possessions.

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Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during game two of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 4, 2023 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

«We had a really good film session this morning,» Malone said Tuesday. «I gave an opportunity for everyone on our team to talk and talk about what they saw on film. It was a very honest conversation. The guys owned what they needed to have. We have to learn from Game 2 to use it to our advantage. «

In other words, Denver needs to do what Miami did coming out of Game 1.

The Heat faced significant deficits in both games in Denver: 24 points in Game 1 and 15 points in Game 2. And though there was a comeback attempt in Game 1, reaching the final nine, the Heat managed to erase all of the deficit. and then some in Game 2.

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Jimmy Butler prepares to take a free throw

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat prepares to shoot a free throw during Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 4, 2023 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

«You’re in the finals,» said Spoelstra, looking for his third championship as the Heat’s coach. «You’re going to be dealing with great players, great teams. You have to find a way to get past it and make it difficult and do a lot of things that are difficult.»

Wednesday’s winner obviously takes the lead with a 2-1 series lead, and history will tilt in that team’s favor as well. When a final is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 ultimately claims the title 80% of the time (32 times in 40 previous instances). And the 2-1 series leaders, regardless of whether they won Game 3 or not, clinched the title 79% of the time (49 times in 62 prior instances).

The Heat are in the Finals for the second time in four seasons, but they’re playing their first home Finals game since 2014 — the 2020 appearance was in the bubble, with no fans in the buildings for most of that experience and only a few few. family members for the finals.

NBA FINALS: MIAMI’S FOURTH QUARTER EXPLOSION LEADS TO GAME 2 VICTORY OVER NUGGETS

Jamal Murray dribbles the ball

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 4, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

«No matter what, they’re going to be after you,» Heat guard Kyle Lowry said. «They’ll give you energy. You know, if the other team is running, they’ll give you a little boost. If you’re running, there’s going to be a big boost. The overall energy for your team and your party, it’ll give you a little boost, but it won’t It will win the game, because you still have to go out there and play.»

Jumping late in games hasn’t been a problem for Miami in this series. The Heat are outscoring Denver 66-45 in the final quarters of this series, shooting 64% to the Nuggets’ 44% in the final period and holding a 33-9 lead in 3-point points.

But the first three quarters have been heavily biased toward Denver. The Nuggets have outscored Miami 167-138 in those stretches, outscoring the Heat 53% to 39%. Miami has outscored Denver 57-48 on 3-pointers in those quarters, but that’s nothing like the unmanageable margin the Nuggets have dealt with in the final quarters.

«Just don’t look wide at them,» said Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 34 points, 10.5 rebounds and nine assists in his first two final games. «Yes, we know they are going to score. Yes, we know they have talented players. But we can’t look at them openly, and that was the main key.»

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Jimmy Butler fires a shot

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Game Two of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 4, 2023 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

There wasn’t much concern on either side Tuesday when the teams had to go through mandatory public workouts as part of the NBA’s media-off list. The Nuggets were loose, smiling a lot. The Heat were doing almost the same thing.

Moods will change at the end of Wednesday night. One team, whether it’s the Nuggets, the heavy favorites in the prefinals, or the eighth-seeded Heat with nothing to lose, will be two wins away from a title.

«When we’re working out, we still like to have fun and relax,» Heat forward Kevin Love said. «He keeps us loose on the pitch going into the game and throughout the 48 minutes. But it’s not without intention and a willingness to do whatever it takes.»