(Photo via Getty Images)
In what has already been a daunting first-half season schedule for the Miami Heat, they will face yet another tough matchup as they host multi-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
Dating back to the 2023 NBA Finals, the Nuggets have won nine of their last 10 games against the Heat. Miami hasn’t won a game versus them since Game 2 of those Finals, and they haven’t beaten them in the regular season since 2021-22. Denver is sitting at the third seed in the West with a 22-9 overall record and winners of seven of their last 10, despite their most recent loss to the Orlando Magic.
Miami is coming off the first back-to-back wins since late November. They are now at the seventh seed in the East with a 17-15 record. However, they are only 1.0 game behind the fifth seed and 1.5 out of fourth.
Bam Adebayo is expected to make his return from a two-game absence with back pain, as the Heat Captain has been upgraded to probable. Tyler Herro remains out and set to miss his 27th game out of 33 during his injury-riddled 2025-26 campaign. With Adebayo back in the fold, it will be interesting to see if Pelle Larsson will be relegated to a bench role.
The Heat are 13-6 with Larsson as a starter, including 7-1 over the last eight.
Will Miami be able to pull off a statement win and upset the Nuggets? Let us know in the comments!
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Denver Nuggets:
- Christian Braun (ankle) — OUT
- Tamar Bates (foot) — OUT
- Aaron Gordon (hamstring) — OUT
- Cam Johnson (knee) — OUT
Miami Heat:
- Bam Adebayo (back) — PROBABLE
- Tyler Herro (toe) — OUT
- Vlad Goldin (g-league) — OUT
- Jahmir Young (g-league) — OUT
- Terry Rozier (not with team) — OUT
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Denver Nuggets:
- Jamal Murray, G
- Tim Hardaway Jr., G
- Peyton Watson, F
- Spencer Jones, F
- Nikola Jokic, C
Miami Heat:
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Norman Powell, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 7:30 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!
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Interesting 2025-2026 stats, so far:
Wiggins: 16.4ppg/ 4.9rpg 2.9apg/ – Salary: $28,223,215 plus
Jaquez: 16.3ppg/ 5.5rpg/ 4.6apg – Salary: $3,861,600
Totals: 32.7ppg/ 10.4apg/ 7.5apg – Salaries: $32,084,815
Quitter: 19.6ppg / 5.6rpg / 4.9apg – Salary: $52,126,450
Lol!
It will be interesting to see how Jovic does with Jovic watching. I have a feeling they are going to wind up on the same team one day. Maybe by this summer.
jokic vs jovic my fav letter in alphabets a k dam
This is a good test. We will learn a lot about the Heat’s team quality from facing Denver.
orlando beat em they have some injuries gordon braun cam all out.
True. Still better than ATL, or the Pacers.