Jimmy Butler denies feud with Nikola Jokic ahead of Game 1

Last year, during a regular season game between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, Nikola Jokic shoved Markieff Morris to attract the fury of the Heat players including Jimmy Butler who was then seen pointing at someone on the Nuggets' side of the court and saying, "Let's fight in the back."

The watching public assumed that was a message at Jokic but Butler has denied that. 

"I don’t think so. I don’t think it has too much to do with anything. It’s in the past. But I will say I wasn’t talking to Jokic. 

"That wasn’t my beef, so make sure you write that. The individual who I was talking to definitely knew who I was talking to,” Butler said.

On the court though, the Heat must find a way to contain the two-time MVP if they are to stand any chance of winning the championship.