Miami Heat-Denver Nuggets Preview: Can Heat Get Back On Track Vs Reigning Champs?

What to look for in Miami Heat’s Wednesday night home matchup against Denver

Author:
Nick Crandell
Mar 13, 2024 2:08 PM EDT

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The Miami Heat (35-29) enter Wednesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets (45-20) struggling mightily.

Miami has lost three straight, most recently an unacceptable 110-108 home loss to the Washington Wizards (NBA-worst 11-54). Jimmy Butler had 23 points while Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier each added 16 points.

The Nuggets arrive in Miami riding high. Denver has won three in a row and nine of their last 10. They beat the Toronto Raptors 125-119 at home in their most recent game. Nikola Jokić had a historical performance, posting 35 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, six steals and two blocks. No player has produced such a stat line in NBA history.

Previous Matchups

Wednesday night is the second and final game between the teams this season, barring an NBA Finals rematch. The first took place on Feb. 29 in Denver, with the Nuggets winning 103-97.

Adebayo and Butler led Miami’s scoring punch with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Rozier had 19 points but struggled from three-point range, only making one of his eight attempts.

With Murray playing just 14 minutes before leaving with an injury and Jokić underwhelming (for his standards), Michael Porter Jr. took the game over. The 6-foot-10 forward finished 30 points and 11 rebounds, both team-highs. Jokić had 18 points (6/15 from the field), 11 rebounds, seven assists and four turnovers.

Opposing Players to Watch

The duo of Jokić and Murray is one of the NBA’s best.

Jokić is well on his way to winning his third MVP in four years. The 29-year-old is averaging 26.2 points (13th in NBA) 12.3 rebounds (4th) and 9.2 assists (4th) while shooting 58.2 percent (11th). Along with his masterful offensive game, he is one of the most underrated defenders in the league. Jokić has a 109.1 defensive rating this season, seventh-best in the NBA.

Murray is averaging 21.2 points 4.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists while shooting 48.3 percent and 42.0 percent from three. The 6-foot-4 guard has averaged an exceptional 26.8 points and 9.4 assists over his last five games, including a 37-point performance in a March 9 home win against the Utah Jazz.

Key Matchup

Nikola Jokić vs. Bam Adebayo

The two All-Star big men are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their production this month.

In five games, Jokić is averaging 30.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 8.6 assists while shooting 59.8 percent on over 20 attempts per game.

Adebayo has also played five games in March, but the results have been disappointing. He is 15.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 44.9 percent and an abysmal 56.0 percent from the foul line.

Adebayo has played a big part in the Heat’s three-game losing streak, and it doesn't get any easier with Jokić coming to town.