Bam Adebayo goes down, Heat unable to slow down Nikola Jokic and Nuggets
The Miami Heat returned to Denver, a tough arena where they hadn’t earned a regular-season win since 2016. Hopes were high, especially with Kasparas Jakucionis cleared to possibly make his NBA debut. However, the night quickly turned sour due to injury troubles.
Bam Adebayo’s early exit
In the first quarter, Bam Adebayo awkwardly stepped on a handoff and screen to Norman Powell, appearing to injure his left foot. He limped off, headed to the locker room, and did not return for the rest of the game.
Impact on Miami’s rotation
Following Adebayo’s injury, attention shifted to the Heat bench for possible adjustments. Coach Erik Spoelstra had already aimed to limit Kel’el Ware’s minutes against Nikola Jokic but soon found himself with few options. Ware provided some defensive resistance, yet Miami’s inability to secure rebounds was a major issue.
“Fourteen offensive boards for Denver compared to one for Miami in the first half pretty much tells the story.”
Next-man-up challenge
When Ware came out, the lack of another true center became obvious. Two-way contract player Vlad Goldin is currently with Sioux Falls, leaving Keshad Johnson to fill in as the backup five.
Summary
The Heat’s ongoing injury woes and rebounding struggles again proved costly in Denver, leaving them still searching for a win there since 2016.
Author’s summary: Miami’s injury setbacks, led by Bam Adebayo’s early exit, exposed their shallow frontcourt depth and allowed Denver’s rebounding power to dominate.