The Miami Heat are coming off a tough loss against the Denver Nuggets last night, with a final score of 122-112. They haven't won a regular-season game in the Mile High City since Nov. 30th, 2016, when Hassan Whiteside was on the roster. One of the biggest differences in the game was the offensive rebounds, which the Nuggets annihilated, 21 to five, and led to 22 second-chance points.

The Heat did not have enough bodies, especially after the first quarter, when Bam Adebayo left the game early due to a left foot injury. Afterwards, Kel'el Ware was the only center available on the roster, with two-way Vladislav Goldin joining the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the organization's G-League affiliate.

Ware finished the game with 13 points, 13 rebounds, four steals, and a block in 27 minutes, his first double-double of the season, but was also -14 in the plus/minus box, which means how much the Heat were outscored while he was on the court. He had the worst negative of the team.

Erik Spoelstra has been challenging the second-year big man to impact the game, but recently lost his spot in the starting lineup.

At the start of the season, Ware was the only seven-footer listed on the standard roster. 

Spoelstra had to roll with Keshad Johnson as the Heat's backup center last night and it didn't go very well. The 6'6 forward was a mismatch compared to Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas.

Johnson went scoreless and finished with two rebounds and a steal in nine minutes of action.

There have been no updates on Adebayo's injury. The ninth-year All-Star was having a great start to the season, averaging 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and a steal while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range.

The Heat's issue for years has been their lack of size. It's one of the reasons why they fell short of victory in the 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals. Looking forward to next week, the team will face the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, who have great size on their rosters.

They might recall Goldin from the G-League, but the Skyforce play their first game tomorrow against the Motor City Cruise in Detroit, Michigan.

The Heat gave up their size in an offseason trade to acquire Norman Powell, shipping Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson to the Utah Jazz. They have a standard roster spot open, but can't sign a player without going over the luxury tax line, unless through a trade.

The Heat will have to make due with the cards they're dealt with in the meantime.