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 final score was relatively close, the game slipped away from the Heat in the first half, and they were unable to regain control.

Main Reasons Behind the Outcome

Rebounding Disadvantage

The Heat entered this matchup having lost ten straight regular season games to the Nuggets, missing their top scorer Tyler Herro, while Denver fielded arguably their strongest roster during the Nikola Jokic era. A critical factor was the rebounding difference in the first half.

At halftime, the Nuggets grabbed 36 rebounds compared to the Heat’s 17.
The Nuggets secured 14 offensive rebounds, while the Heat managed only 1.

This dominance on the boards led Denver to take 16 more field goal attempts than Miami by halftime and achieve an offensive rating of 123.6, which would rank first in the NBA. Meanwhile, Miami’s offensive rating was 111.1, ranking 25th.

Such a large disparity in possessions and rebounds makes it extremely difficult to win, especially against a strong championship-caliber team featuring perhaps the NBA’s best big man.

Nikola Jokic’s Impact

Despite the Heat’s struggles, Nikola Jokic had a commanding performance, scoring 33 points on 66% shooting, which heavily contributed to Denver’s success.

“It’s extremely difficult to overcome that significant of a difference in the possession battle against anybody, but especially against a legitimate championship contender that features the best big man (and perhaps player) in the world.”

The Heat’s inability to control the boards and contain Jokic set the tone for the entire game.

Author’s Summary

The Miami Heat’s loss to the Nuggets was mainly due to a severe rebounding deficit and Nikola Jokic’s dominant play, which together allowed Denver to control the game's pace and momentum.

Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-06