Despite Duncan Robinson’s six triples and Tyler Herro’s 24 points, the Heat (3-5) couldn’t against the power of Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets (6-3) and fell 135-122 on Friday night at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, in the second game of a six-game tour around the United States. Two seasons ago, these two teams played in the NBA Finals.
This time both sets behaved up to their background and starred in a fast, entertaining clash with witty actions and inspired by both sides, but more effectively on Denver’s part.
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The Heat will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday (7 p.m.) at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Jimmy Butler was injured in the first six minutes of the game and did not return to the board.
The Heat’s top scorers were Tyler Herro with 24 points, followed by Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo with 20 each, Terry Rozier and Haywood Highsmith with 15 each, Nikola Jovic with 11 and Josh Richardson with 10.
Meanwhile, for the Nuggets, Jokic stood out with 30 cartons, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds, Jamal Murray with 28 points, Michel Porter Jr. and Christian Braun with 21, and Peyton Watson with 16.
In the first place, the Nuggets fired 17-6 and coach Erik Spoelstra was forced to ask for time soon to reassemble his team.
The Heat recovered and approached 27-21, even though just after six minutes of the game Butler came off the board because of a twist on the ankle and did not return all night.
Still, Denver was unstoppable and won 40-27 in the first quarter. It was the first time the Heat had received that number of points in the initial partial of a game this season.
Jokic had been beaten at the end of the first quarter and was given time to recover.
Without the Serbian on the board, the Nuggets lost power. They did not score again in more than three minutes, and the Heat thanks to their speed cut 10 unanswered points and approached 40-37 until the local coach asked for time.
He immediately entered Jokic and scored to put Denver 42-37 and give his own respite.
Thanks to the effectiveness of the triples, the first time ended 71-60 in favor of the Nuggets and was the largest number of points the Heat received in this campaign.
On the return to the court, it seemed that Miami had left the energy in the chamber because the Nuggets took a wide lead in just over seven minutes and put on 86-64. They scored from all angles and prevented the visitors from doing so.
In the third quarter, the Nuggets dominated 104-90 and left the Heat forced an extraordinary reaction or otherwise fighting for a decent defeat. The second thing happened.
At the beginning of the fourth period, the Nuggets coach rested Jokic when the Serbian had already added a new triple-double in his career.
That meant, by the way, that the game was decided and other players had to be given more activity.
Despite that, Denver maintained its double-digit advantage. As the Heat approached the scoreboard, Jokic returned to the court and the lead widened to 120-108.
Then, the Miami quintet scored a double and then Robinson hit a triple and the Heat got just seven points.
Despite all his efforts, the Heat couldn’t get any closer and suffered their ninth consecutive defeat in Denver.