Denver Nuggets crucial victory over the Miami Heat:
Fourth-quarter hits came from Christian Braun and Reggie Jackson.
Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson pushes past Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell), MIAMI—IIf Denver residents are jealous of their NBA team for a perfectly timed trip to South Florida, worry not: The Nuggets and Heat were just as cold in Miami as everyone is about to be in snowy Colorado.
In another NBA Finals rematch defined by stout defence and low shooting percentages, only the unlikeliest source could provide a decisive heat check moment: backup point guard Reggie Jackson, whose seven consecutive points in a 75-second span handed Denver a 94-84 lead in what turned out to be a 100-88 win Wednesday night at Kaseya Centre. Nikola Jokic tallied only 12 points, but his team has won all seven games this season on occasions when Jokic is active but scores fewer than 15.
It’s crucial. “When Nikola doesn’t score 40 points, you have to win games,” Christian Braun told The Denver Post. “There’s not many times when he doesn’t do that, but in those games, we have guys who can step up.”
With 16 games remaining in the regular season, the Nuggets (46-20) moved above Oklahoma City and into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with their 10th victory in 11 games since the All-Star break.
Regarding the probable No. 1 seed, which Denver now holds without a tie for the first time since Nov. 16, coach Michael Malone remarked, “It was great to us last year.” “For Jamal (Murray) to only play 31 minutes tonight, that is fantastic. It’s fantastic that KCP will only be playing for 24 minutes this evening. Somehow, someway, I have to reduce Nikola’s minutes, but that won’t happen until the season is gone.”
With 25 points on 9 of 16 shots, Michael Porter Jr. led the way. Since the break, he has averaged more than 20 points per game. However, bench players came through for Denver when it needed them most. Thanks to a strong performance by the second unit, which included Aaron Gordon at the five and Justin Holiday supporting Jamal Murray in the backcourt rather than Jackson, Jokic was able to remain on the bench until 6:29 of the fourth quarter.
A corner 3-pointer and a disputed floater that he celebrated with the “too small” gesture were among Braun’s seven points during that run. Eric Spoelstra had to call a timeout as Jokic and company got ready to check back in after a strong Peyton Watson dunk. Braun then transferred the torch to Jackson, whose rotations had recently been more aligned with Jokic’s in order to avoid lineups that included both Jackson and Murray.
In the final three minutes, the Nuggets never gave up a double-digit advantage after Jackson made three straight jumpers. They trailed 71-67 late in the third quarter.
“Everybody knows that Reggie has been struggling to make shots, never for a lack of effort,” Malone went on to say. “The guy is in the gym all the time.”
Nuggets top Heat in low-scoring battle:
On Wednesday night, Michael Porter Jr. led the visiting Denver Nuggets to a 100-88 victory over the Miami Heat with a game-high 25 points.
The Nuggets, who had won 10 of their previous 11 games and four straight, were led by two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
Christian Braun and Reggie Jackson both scored seven points apiece in the fourth quarter, demonstrating the strength of Denver’s bench. Jackson scored seven fourth-quarter points on three consecutive baskets. Braun went 3-for-3 in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer, after going scoreless in the first three quarters.
Mar 13, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic (15) and Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) battle for a loose ball during the first half at Kaseya Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol, USA TODAY Sports Purchase Licensing Rights
The NBA Finals from the previous year, which Denver won in five games, were rematched on Wednesday. The Nuggets have won eight consecutive regular-season games against the Heat.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat, who have lost four straight games, with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. He scored nine points during Miami’s comeback in the third quarter. Miami also received 15 points from Jimmy Butler and 14 from Terry Rozier.
After a quarter in which it led 9–0 on fast-break points, Denver was up 26–19 after 12 minutes. Miami trailed by as many as 13 points in the quarter and shot only 37.5 percent from the field.
By the half, Miami had reduced its deficit to 50-44. Still, Denver dominated throughout the second quarter, with Porter leading all first-half scorers with 15 points. Denver shot 5 of 15 from the 3-point line in the first half, while Miami only made 1 of 8.
Before embarking on a crucial four-game road trip starting in Detroit on Friday, the Heat are hoping to break out of their mini-funk and ignite some excitement. Miami enters on a three-game losing run after winning seven of their previous eight games. As the playoffs approach, Jimmy Butler and his team have a reputation for finding the right winning edge. That includes finishing 44-38 last season and reaching the NBA Finals, where the same Nuggets club defeated them in five games.
highlights of the match Denver Nuggests vs. Miami Heat.
