What Led to the Miami Heat's Game Against the Denver Nuggets Getting Out of Hand?
On Wednesday night, the Miami Heat lost to the Denver Nuggets 122-112. While the final score doesn't reflect a blowout, the game slipped away from the Heat early, particularly in the first half, and they never managed to take back control.
Key Reasons for the Outcome
Rebounding Disadvantage
The Heat entered the game having lost ten consecutive regular-season matches to the Nuggets. They were also without their top scorer, Tyler Herro, while Denver showcased arguably its strongest roster of the Nikola Jokic era.
Despite this, the Heat severely diminished their chances of winning by struggling on the boards during the first half. At halftime, the Nuggets had grabbed 36 rebounds compared to the Heat’s 17. Most notably, Denver secured 14 offensive rebounds versus Miami’s single offensive board.
This disparity led to the Nuggets taking 16 more field goal attempts than the Heat in the first half. The Nuggets posted a 123.6 offensive rating during this period—enough to rank first in the NBA—while Miami's rating was 111.1, ranking 25th.
Overcoming such a large difference in possession is extremely difficult against any team, and even more so against a championship contender featuring the world’s best big man and perhaps best player, Nikola Jokic.
Nikola Jokic scored 33 points on 66% shooting, dominating the Heat.
Summary
Miami’s significant rebounding struggles and Denver’s efficient offense early on made it impossible for the Heat to stay competitive against a top-tier Nuggets squad.
Author’s summary: Miami Heat’s lack of rebounds and Denver’s offensive dominance in the first half paved the way for a Nuggets victory that the Heat never recovered from.