The Miami Heat look to tie the series on the birthday of Udonis Haslem and Nikola Jovic

MIAMI, Fla. – The Miami Heat will seek to tie up the NBA Finals on Friday on a very special day.

As it turns out, June 9 is Heat captain Udonis Haslem’s 43rd birthday.

Haslem, the NBA’s oldest active player and a three-time champion, is in his final days with his hometown team after announcing he will retire at the end of the season.

He is the third player to spend a two-decade career with the same franchise, joining Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant.

“All I’ve tried to do is take care of my people, take care of my city,” Haslem told Local 10 News in April. “I think that’s why I can sit with the mayor and the Commissioners, or I can sit with the people of the neighborhood and feel comfortable either way. It’s because of the sacrifices I’ve made for this city.”

The team will also try to get a win on the birthday of first-round pick Nikola Jovic, who turned 20 on Friday.

Jovic made his first NBA Finals appearance in Games 1 and 3, but has yet to score any points.

The Heat hope to tie the series after losing Game 3 to the Denver Nuggets at the Kaseya Center 109-94.

Heat star Jimmy Butler is taking it upon himself to help his team bounce back in the NBA Finals.

In Game 3, Butler scored 28 points, but was only 11/24 on field goals.

Butler told reporters Thursday: “I’ll be better because whenever I’m better, we’re better together.”

The Heat will have to once again try to limit Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who posted another triple-double with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.

Kickoff at the Kaseya Center is set for 8:30 p.m.

Fans will be able to catch all the action of the NBA Finals at Local 10.