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

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. Although the score doesn't fully reflect a blowout, the game slipped out of the Heat's hands in the first half, and they never regained control afterward.

Key Factors Behind the Loss

Rebounding Dominance

The Heat entered the game having lost ten consecutive regular-season matchups to the Nuggets. They were still missing their top scorer Tyler Herro, while the Nuggets had arguably their best roster of the Nikola Jokic era. Despite these challenges, the Heat lost any chance of winning due to the rebounding disparity early on.

At halftime, the Nuggets had 36 rebounds compared to the Heat's 17.
The Nuggets grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, while the Heat managed only 1.
This led to the Nuggets having 16 more field goal attempts than the Heat in the first half.
Denver posted a 123.6 offensive rating in the first half, which would rank first in the NBA, compared to the Heat’s 111.1 rating, ranking 25th.

Overcoming such a large possession disadvantage is difficult against any team, especially a championship contender with the best big man—and possibly player—in the world.

Nikola Jokic's Impact

"Despite Nikola Jokic having his way with the Heat, scoring 33 points..."

Jokic's dominant performance was a key factor in Denver maintaining control throughout the game.

Summary

The Miami Heat’s loss was largely due to Denver’s overwhelming rebounding and offensive efficiency in the first half, combined with the absence of Tyler Herro and Nikola Jokic’s standout play.

Author's Summary

The Heat’s poor rebounding and Denver’s offensive dominance, especially by Jokic, turned the game decisively in Denver’s favor early on.

Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-06