(Photo via Getty Images)
The Miami Heat are capping off their four-game west coast road trip on Wednesday night against multi-time league MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Miami will look to split the difficult trip 2-2, but a Nuggets matchup may be the team’s toughest one yet this season.
The Heat have historically always struggled to play well in Denver. For context, Miami hasn’t won a regular season game in Denver since November 30, 2016. That’s eight consecutive losses ever since— not including the Heat’s game 2 NBA Finals win against them back in 2023.
Coming off a much needed bounce back win against the LA Clippers the other night, a victory against Denver would make it two in a row after dropping three straight. It would also make the Heat’s record 4-1 with Norman Powell in the lineup, who is good to go tonight after recently being sidelined with a groin injury. The veteran guard dropped 21 points on 60% shooting in his return versus the Clippers on Monday.
Bam Adebayo will also look to keep his offensive rhythm going after recording a team-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Miami’s captain has had an All-NBA caliber start to the 2025-26 season thus far.
Both the Heat and Nuggets are currently ranked third and fourth in most points per game as a team this season, respectively. So expect a fast paced and competitive outing from the two squads for this one. It will be interesting to see if coach Erik Spoelstra brings Kel’el Ware back into the starting lineup to help match up better against the beefy frontcourt of Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Ware was relegated to the bench in favor of Pelle Larsson in Miami’s previous win.
Jokic will assuredly be a handful tonight no matter what the lineup and rotation looks like. The superstar big man is averaging an absurd triple-double statline six games into the season, with 22.7 points, 13.2 rebounds and 11.3 assists on 60% shooting.
Are the Heat capable of pulling off another upset? Let us know in the comments!
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Kasparas Jakucionis (groin) — QUESTIONABLE
- Tyler Herro (ankle) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
- Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT
- Myron Gardner (g-league) — OUT
- Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT
Denver Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray (calf) — PROBABLE
- Curtis Jones (g-league) — OUT
- DaRon Holmes (g-league) — OUT
- Tamar Bates (g-league) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Norman Powell, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Denver Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray, G
- Christian Braun, G
- Cam Johnson, F
- Aaron Gordon, F
- Nikola Jokic, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 9:00 PM EST
- TV: FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
Come back to Hot Hot Hoops at game time to join our GameThread and chat about the game live with other Heat fans!
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Check out Hot Hot Hoops on Facebook here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
- 2026 NBA Summer League Gamethread: Miami Heat (1-0) v. Los Angeles Lakers (0-1)
- Don’t expect a decision from Heat target LeBron James any time soon
- 2026 NBA Summer League Gamethread: Miami Heat (0-0) v. San Antonio Spurs (0-0)
- 2026 Miami Heat Summer League: 3 biggest storylines to track
- Tracking the Miami Heat’s 2026 undrafted signees
DON’T DO IT PAT OR YOU MAY HAVE “QUITTER 2.0” ON YOUR HANDS
Only one team can get Grizzlies’ Ja Morant back on track, says Kendrick Perkins (Clutch Sports)
In the wake of Morant’s frustration with his coaches’ direction this season, which involves playing Ja in intermittent spurts over long-winded stints, Perkins believes Morant’s future is elsewhere, he said, per ESPN’s Road Trippin.
“I feel like this relationship has run it’s course. I do think it’s time for Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies to part ways,” Perkins said. “I do think there’s only one option for Ja Morant. One direction that he needs to go. He needs that Erik Spoelstra, Pat Riley Miami Heat culture.”
Spoelstra’s disciplined regimen and hard-work approach is well-documented as the backbone to the Miami Heat’s culture, which is what Kendrick Perkins is alluding to as the kind of environment that could whip Morant into shape. However, with the kind of attitude Morant’s illustrated hasn’t been the best PR for potential suitors looking to trade for the mercurial guard.
Food for thought. The game is being played in mile high Denver. Because of the elevation/thin air, teams must frequently substitute in order for players to catch their breath. Because of this, most teams have difficulty keeping up with the Nuggets, especially if they have a mediocre bench. That is not an issue with Miami, which has one of the deepest benches in the NBA.
Furthermore,
If Miami’s bench comes through, I expect to see a close game and possibly another upset win. But that’s just me.
randle kat matchup not sure who got the better of that deal throw in donte d
This will be a passing grade for this west road trip if Heat wins this game. So Ware might start to match up with Jokic?
why have keshod here when u need a 7 ft 270 lb guy to bang with the cheapshot artist,goldin boy is one strong looking dude .big mistake on da heat.seen him play at fau live dudes got skills size and strength.what does keshad bring to the table
time to activate vladamir(not putin)he has the bulk to battle with joker
May want to read the article – he is not available. G league.
rc posts all i read.whos gonna guard joker please not bam get bad flashbacks
Davion will bite him on the ankles like the junkyard dog he is.
davion van gundy
lol
we have 10 players which can run full speed, so this should be a fun matchup, even there is a high attitude in Denver. I expect close game.
We lost to Or, SA, LAL on the road, all quality teams, and we weren’t far away in any of those games. Out of four wins, two were blown outs.
We are meeting a fully healthy Nuggets team. And so often, the availability of players issue is forgotten when we look back at wins or losses. The nice thing is there is real interest in seeing how this team, a team that has already delivered two surprising wins (NY and LAC), will do against another top tier team. We have a chance even against the really good teams this year.
I didn’t have high hopes for this season, and honestly still don’t. I just hope it’s an enjoyable game to watch. The new offense leads to some awful turnovers, but it is a lot more fun to be a Heat fan today, than it was this time last year. Win or Lose, keep on running Miami.
i see 500 team give or take few games either way.no ss no rings
Dude wait until they are 5 games under .500 to turn on the “Debbie Downer” button. I was just starting to get excited about this group of guys this season.
I’m all about fun and you are correct. i enjoy the games and then see what happens at the end instead of trading guys and extending other guys after every game.
The Heat almost never win in Denver. An L is expected but a win would be a huge accomplishment to end this road trip. Go HEAT!
Yes, it would be huge, but not likely. But it’s a different Heat team this year.. let’s see how they match up.
do u remmeber the bosh game when he walked them off with a game winner w/o bron and wade .
I do and was so happy for Bosh. He got so much s**t from fans wanting to trade him and and that he was the weak link. Some people think they know what they see, but a lot of times they have no idea.
never heard a peep to trade him.he had to take a back seat to the goat and wade.he was perfecr fit here.the most important rebound in heat history
Two quotes of yours to look at ….I enjoy the games and see what happens next instead of trading guys and extending guys after every game. Or, how about, Some people think they know what they see, but a lot of times have no idea.
For a guy that’s all about the fun, you seem to have a lot of unresolved vendettas. Why do you say these things? You know what would be more fun, being nice. From now on when you say these micro aggressions my response will be,
There he goes, there he goes again…
hes prob referencing me 30 taking a shot at me i use to say alot my eyes judge how good a player is rather than looking at #s.all good 30 ill never meet him have no idea who he or maye she is.but his sarcastic posts are less common now compared to past years
I know, It was about you and me. BTW, you handle it beautifully. But, I decided to not be stepping around it anymore as it’s gone on for literally years. I am now using operant conditioning on them. So from now on, and not every time, but when he or she says something mean I’m going to call them out on it, Hopefully it might make them think twice about attacking the posters, which is never called for or ok to do.
You see, I’m all about fun and civility. And this same comment goes out to the other micro aggressor, micro because their aggressions are very small and unimportant. Im speaking to the one who thinks people have to be insane to not agree with her. Geez, this post is about you too. Be nice or you will hear from me. The only way to deal with a bully is to confront them. I tried being nice, it didn’t work. And you others posters shouldn’t cower or placate the bullies. Take no solace in the fact they haven’t gone after you yet. See the overall picture that you can make comments about the team and players, but their comments often cross over into personal attacks. This place will be just as fun without their unkind comments. Hopefully, after this, this issue won’t need to be addressed anymore.