Behind another dominant performance from three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets slammed the door on the Miami Heat Wednesday evening with a 122-112 win inside Ball Arena in Denver, Colo.
Jokic tallied his fifth triple-double of the season, dropping an absurd 33-point, 15-rebound, 16-assist statline across 37 minutes, shooting 12-of-18 from the floor and 2-of-5 from 3-point range.
Denver completely undressed Miami on the glass, out-rebounding the Heat by 23 (61-38), corralling 21 offensive rebounds with 22 second-chance points and 62 points in the paint.
As a wise man once said: No rebounds, no rings.
Rebounding wins championships, and the Heat’s rebounding effort was excruciatingly bad in Wednesday’s loss.
Norman Powell led the way with 23 points on 5-of-15 shooting and 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Andrew Wiggins tallied 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four rebounds and five assists.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. was one of Miami’s bright spots off the bench once again, tallying 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting; Kel’el Ware had 13 points, 13 rebounds and four steals as well.
Heat star big Bam Adebayo only played eight minutes after suffering a left foot injury in the first half. We will see what the prognosis is, but that would be a catastrophic loss for the Heat, who’s already missing Tyler Herro.
Miami drops to 4-4 on the season and closes its four-game road trip at 1-3. It may be cursed in Denver — where it hasn’t won in the regular season since 2016 — but it will return home Friday for a bout against the Charlotte Hornets at 8:00 p.m. EST.
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The Heat played hard against one of the five best teams in the league. We lost Bam and that was the player we could least afford to lose against Denver. It was actually a little impressive we gave them the fight we did as we made a quality effort even though undermanned.
If you love the Heat and their players and you appreciate their hard work, you want them to be surrounded with other players who can help carry the load so their efforts can result in wins.
The Heat have some fighters this year, players who will give their all for the team. It’s an imperative now, if Bam’s injury is at all longer term especially, but really even if it’s short term as the risk of becoming too thin in this area has been exposed, to acquire another big man to support these other players.
Maybe the worst game this season. Bad rebounding Rebounding and Jokic killed any chance to be close.
Jovic still not entirety, but mostly bad. Ware numbers looks good, but impression wasn’t great.
thought ware was fine overall w/o bam we will see the whole toolbox of kelel.whats behind ware is worrysome.vladamir time or nurkic get him wherever the f he is,to put keshad on joker is just stupid spobot.when jjj powell and wiggy are on the ct together i like our chances.dav was getting by murray all night.i think he could have gone for at least 20.hes got to get more aggressive offensively.murrays still a good player but father time and injuries have jimmy butlerd him.jovic made 1 3 last night otherwise very bad.hes becoming unplayable if he doesnt get his sht together.