Basketball

MIAMI (AP) — Maybe the best way to describe Heat Culture would be to consider two ways that Pat Riley has used to define what basically is the backbone of Miami’s franchise. Answer 1: “It’s a shared philosophy with the goal of being great.

Denver Nuggets (53-29, first in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Miami; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Heat -2.5; over/under is 214.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Adrian Griffin is getting his first head coaching job at the same place where he started out as an assistant.

MIAMI (AP) — The easiest way to explain what the Miami Heat are doing in the comeback department during these playoffs is simply to put up their numbers against the rest of the league.

DENVER (AP) — Staring down a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals, as the visitors in a hostile arena where no road team had prevailed in more than two months, the Miami Heat decided to do what they’ve done throughout the postseason. They found a way.

DENVER (AP) — It was a popular theme before the NBA Finals started — about how the Nuggets, an up-tempo team with fresh legs that could exploit the mile-high altitude in Denver, would have a good chance to wear down the Miami Heat.

DENVER (AP) — Erik Spoelstra bristled at the suggestion the Miami Heat somehow solved Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets by allowing the superstar to score at will while taking away his passing lanes and his penchant to elevate his teammates.

DENVER (AP) — Duncan Robinson flexed and then flashed his mean face after a cutting layup. No disrespect meant. The Miami Heat forward was just having a little fun in the fourth quarter.

DENVER (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra practically snickered when asked about neutralizing the effective two-man game played by Denver Nuggets teammates Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

DENVER (AP) — Rick Adelman’s influence is all over this year’s NBA Finals, which makes his being honored during the title series even more fitting.