Heat seize second-half control, draining threes and dominating after Jokic's surprising early exit. A decisive win fuels their rising momentum.
Miami, FL - The Miami Heat sought to continue developing winning habits, especially after back-to-back victories against the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks. It's brought a new sense of life to the team's season after going through some growing pains, losing nine out of 11 games. In the previous two matchups, the offense was clicking once again and the defense was living up to the organization's standards.
However, a massive challenge approached: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. A notorious matchup in the 2023 NBA Finals, in which the Heat fell after five games. It's a new chapter for both sides, but the competitiveness remains the same.
There were notable players sidelined for this game, such as Cam Johnson (right knee; injury management), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), Chris Braun (left ankle sprain), Tamar Bates (left foot surgery), and Tyler Herro (right big toe contusion).
The Heat would return with All-Star center Bam Adebayo after experiencing a two-game absence due to back tightness. Of course, the five-time All-Defensive veteran would be tasked with guarding Jokic, who's averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, 11.1 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 60.4 percent from the field, 44 percent from three-point range on the season. It's always a difficult night when dealing with the three-time MVP Serbian.
The starting lineup:
Heat: Davion Mitchell-Norman Powell-Andrew Wiggins-Bam Adebayo-Kel'el Ware
Nuggets: Jamal Murray-Tim Hardaway Jr.-Peyton Watson-Spencer Jones-Nikola Jokic
It was time for tipoff and Adebayo was the first to punch the scoreboard with a jump shot near the free-throw line. The Heat's offense was attacking aggressively, especially with Nikola Jovic scoring eight consecutive points, which capped off a 21-7 run. They finished the first quarter ahead, with a score of 41-29.
However, the Nuggets wouldn't keep their heads down, especially with the monster in the middle. They sparked a 21-5 run, with Jokic leading the charge to no surprise, which allowed them to erase the double-digit deficit. As the second quarter ended in a 63-63 tie, it would be a nightmare for the Mile High organization, as the former Finals MVP suffered a hyperextended knee injury after Jones stepped on his ankle heading into halftime. He wouldn't return for the rest of the game, finishing with 21 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in 19 minutes.
The Heat's offense stumbled in the second quarter after a hot start to the game. At first, it seemed to be the same struggles that had shaken the season in the first place. However, the response came stronger. They were in complete control throughout the entire second half, making 16 three-pointers in the final 24 minutes of regulation.
The final score was 147-123, with the Heat extending their win streak to three.
Norman Powell led with 25 points, including three three-pointers made, four assists, a rebound, and a steal in 28 minutes. The veteran guard continues to make a push to be named an All-Star. Also, the Heat's bench was marvelous, with Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. combining for 42 points, including six three-pointers made between them.
"There's going to be ups and downs during a season," Erik Spoelstra said. "We're getting more consistent to the identity. In the first half, I thought we did some great things with our activity level defensively, and they still put up 63 [points] on us. That just shows you how historically good their offense is with Jokic when he's out here. We're making multiple efforts, swarming him on his catches, but we're putting a lot of pressure on them. The slower we play, the more average we become, regardless of whether team scouts us. It requires mental and physical energy, commitment every single night, which we're fully capable of."
The Heat improve their record to 18-15, sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. There's still more ground to make up, but great progress after a sharp decline. They will face the Detroit Pistons on January 1st, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
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