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 does not reflect a blowout, the game slipped away from the Heat in the first half and they were unable to regain control afterwards.

Key Factors Behind the Loss

Rebounding Disparity

Coming into the game, the Heat had lost ten straight regular-season matchups against the Nuggets and were without their top scorer, Tyler Herro. Meanwhile, the Nuggets played with arguably their strongest roster in the Nikola Jokic era. The Heat’s chances were severely damaged in the first half by the rebounding gap.

At halftime, the Nuggets grabbed 36 rebounds compared to the Heat's 17.
Denver dominated on the offensive glass with 14 offensive rebounds to Miami’s single offensive rebound.

This allowed the Nuggets 16 more field goal attempts than the Heat in the first half. Their offensive rating stood at 123.6, the best in the NBA, while the Heat’s rating was 111.1, ranking 25th.

It's extremely difficult to overcome such a large possession disadvantage, especially against a legitimate championship contender featuring arguably the best player in the world.

Despite Nikola Jokic dominating the Heat with 33 points on 66% shooting, the rebounding imbalance was the critical factor that ultimately put the game out of reach.

Summary

The Heat’s loss was heavily influenced by the massive rebounding gap early on, allowing the Nuggets to control possessions and offensive efficiency against a top-tier opponent.

Author's summary: The Miami Heat’s defeat stemmed mainly from a severe rebounding deficit in the first half, which gave the Denver Nuggets decisive control over the game's pace and possession.

Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-06