After Jamal Murray departed the game due to a sprained ankle, Michael Porter Jr. scored thirty points to help carry the scoring load. On Thursday night, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 103-97 after stifling their fourth-quarter comeback.
With 11 rebounds and 12 of 23 shooting, including four 3-pointers, Porter helped the Nuggets get to 5-0 since the All-Star break.
“A bit of rhythm was caught,” Porter added. However, nothing drastically altered. Of course we need Jamal. However, some shots were just landing.
Denver, which had led 16 points in the fourth quarter, watched Miami close the gap to 99-97 thanks to a Jimmy Butler floating bank shot with 11 seconds left. The game was sealed by two clutch free throws from Nikola Jokic, who kept the Nuggets ahead the entire time.
With eighteen points, eleven rebounds, and seven assists in the end, Jokic broke his four-game triple-double streak. Late in the fourth quarter, eight of Denver’s eleven points came from the two-time NBA MVP.
Porter said that it “definitely had a playoff vibe to it.” They have a lot of fun while they play. They put a lot of effort into their play.
Since their matchup in the NBA Finals in June of last year, this was the Heat and Nuggets’ first encounter. For their first NBA title, the Nuggets defeated the Heat in five games.
Murray stepped on Aaron Gordon’s leg following a drive to the basket, spraining his right ankle, and he departed the game just before halftime. Murray put it to the test and ended the game with six points, shutting it down. This season, he has battled shin splints, right hamstring and ankle pаin, and other illnesses.
Michael Malone, the coach of the Nuggets, stated, “It’s great for him to realize that right now, being cautious is probably the really prudent decision.”
Denver managed to hold off the Heat by assembling a point-guard lineup that included Christian Braun, Jokic, and Reggie Jackson while Murray was absent. For the second straight night, the Nuggets played at home, with Gordon scoring 16 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributing 18 points each.
Jokic described the Heat as “really аggressive and they are not quitting.” “Playing against them is always difficult because they are a skilled team.”
Bam Adebayo had 22 points and Butler added 21 points for a Heat team that had won five in a row. Due to ιnjury, Josh Richardson, Tyler Herro, and Kevin Love were not available for Miami.
Erik Spoelstra, the coach of Miami, stated, “Our guys have that fortitude and grit to keep on figҺting back.” “They did a great job on defense, even though there was some оffensive strugglе.”
The Heat won five of six on a trip that included two games before the All-Star break. They face the Nuggets again on March 13 at home.
Butler affirmed, “We are who we are.” “It’s close to the most important time of the year, so we’ll be OK.”
The Nuggets held a pregame ring ceremony for suspended Heat big man Thomas Bryant, who was with Denver last season in its title run. Bryant was presented his championship ring at half-court from Caldwell-Pope in a pregame ceremony and then immediately left the arena.
The NBA made an allowance for Bryant to be on hand for the game because it was the Heat’s only visit to Denver. Suspended players are typically not allowed to be present at the arena on game nights. Bryant wrapped up a three-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation that happened during a Heat game against New Orleans last week.