What led to the Miami Heat's game against the Denver Nuggets getting out of hand?

Miami Heat vs Denver Nuggets: What Went Wrong?

On Wednesday night, the Miami Heat fell to the Denver Nuggets 122-112. While the final score does not fully reflect a blowout, the Heat lost control early and never managed to recover.

Key Factors Behind the Outcome

Dominance in Rebounding

The Heat entered the game amid a ten-game losing streak against the Nuggets in regular season matchups and were without their top scorer, Tyler Herro. Meanwhile, the Nuggets boasted perhaps their strongest roster in the Nikola Jokic era.

The Heat’s chances were effectively lost in the first half due to a massive rebounding deficit. At halftime, the Nuggets had secured 36 rebounds compared to just 17 for Miami. Among those, Denver grabbed 14 offensive rebounds while Miami managed only one.

This disparity led to the Nuggets taking 16 more field goal attempts in the first half, sustaining an offensive rating of 123.6 (which would rank first in the NBA), while the Heat lagged behind with 111.1 (25th in the league).

The Challenge of Overcoming Possession Deficits

It is incredibly tough to overcome such a significant possession gap, especially against a top-tier championship contender led by Nikola Jokic, arguably the best big man and player in the world.

"Despite Nikola Jokic having his way with the Heat, scoring 33 points on 66% shooting..."

The Heat’s inability to control rebounds and possessions essentially handed the Nuggets the advantage that decided the game.

Author's Summary

Miami’s loss was sealed by their overwhelming rebounding disadvantage and uncontested control by the Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic’s dominant play.

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Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-06

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