Miami Heat Struggle to Slow Down Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets
The Miami Heat returned to a venue where they have historically faced challenges, aiming for their first regular season victory in Denver since 2016. They received a potential boost as Kasparas Jakucionis was listed as available, possibly making his NBA debut.
However, the team’s injury troubles escalated when Bam Adebayo suffered a left foot injury early in the first quarter after awkwardly stepping on a handoff and screen against Norman Powell. Adebayo left the game and did not return.
Impact on Miami’s Rotation and Defense
Following Adebayo's exit, head coach Erik Spoelstra was forced to adjust, turning to Kel'el Ware to match up against Nikola Jokic despite reservations about Ware’s minutes.
Ware managed to find some defensive positioning and applied fronting on Jokic, but Miami struggled to secure defensive rebounds, allowing Denver 14 offensive rebounds to Miami’s 1 in just the first half.
Once Ware’s minutes ended, Miami lacked another big man on the bench. Vlad Goldin, under a two-way contract, was playing with the Sioux Falls team, leading to Keshad Johnson stepping in as backup center.
“14 offensive rebounds for Denver compared to 1 for Miami in the first half pretty much tells the story.”
These challenges highlighted Miami’s difficulty adjusting to Jokic’s versatility and Denver’s dominance on the boards.
Author’s summary: Miami’s injury woes and limited bench depth hindered their defense, allowing Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets to control the game and offensive rebounds decisively.