NBA on ESPN – Just four teams remain in the hunt for the NBA Championship as the NBA Conference Finals heat up LIVE on ESPN. The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference, whilst Boston Celtics clash with Miami Heat in the East.
The NBA Conference Finals begin Wednesday May 17 with the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets facing off in the Western Conference Finals, with Game One tipping off at 10.30am AEST.
Denver was eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs last season, but 2022-23 has been a different story.
Nikola Jokic has spearheaded the Nuggets once again this season and after earning the best record in the West, they will start firm favorites to book a spot in the NBA Finals.
It was only a few short weeks ago that it was unknown if the Lakers would even make the playoffs, and here they are in another Conference Final.
A rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Finals, then played in a COVID bubble in Orlando. The Lakers were more experienced and came away with the series win, and the eventual NBA championship.
Los Angeles have caught fire at the right time of the season. They’ve eliminated #2 seed Memphis Grizzlies and defending NBA champions, Golden State Warriors.
This is LeBron James’ time of year, and this series is simply mouthwatering, and one that could go right down to the wire.
The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat face off in the Eastern Conference Finals, beginning Thursday May 18 at 10.30am AEST.
The Celtics and the Heat clash once more for the Eastern Conference Championship, having met at the same stage last season.
On that occasion Miami came in as the top seed in the East, but this time around they are the underdog – looking to become just the second #8 seed in league history to reach the championship round.
Boston overcame Miami in an epic seven-game series last campaign. However, the Celtics fell at the final hurdle, going down to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
They are in touching distance of returning to the same stage in 2023, and redemption of that NBA Finals defeat has fueled them all season long.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum has been in phenomenal form throughout the NBA Playoffs, highlighted emphatically by the 51 points in the deciding Game Seven of the NBA Conference Semi Final series against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Miami has a star of their own in Jimmy Butler, and the Heat playmaker has also shown his quality throughout their playoff run – spearheading the Heat to a six-game NBA Conference Semi Final series win over the New York Knicks.
Winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will compete in a seven games series for the NBA Championship. ESPN will have every game of the 2023 Conference Finals and 2023 NBA Finals LIVE.
NBA Conference Finals on ESPN
Wednesday May 17
10.30am AEST, Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets: Game 1, ESPN
Thursday May 18
10.30am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat: Game 1, ESPN
Friday May 19
10.30am AEST, Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets: Game 2, ESPN
Saturday May 20
10.30am AEST, Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat: Game 2, ESPN
Sunday May 21
10.30am AEST, Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers: Game 3, ESPN
Monday May 22
10.30am AEST, Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics: Game 3, ESPN
ESPN will have every game of the NBA Conference Finals and 2023 NBA Finals LIVE.
ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ.
Media Release – ESPN
Link to ESPN HERE
TV Central ESPN content HERE
