Mile High Sports

Nikola Jokic masterclass powers Nuggets past high speed Miami Heat

Ryan Blackburn

Nov 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 122-112 to improve to 5-2 on the season and a perfect 4-0 at home so far.

Nikola Jokic was fantastic once again, putting up 33 points, 15 rebounds, 16 assists, and three steals, playing efficient basketball all night against a zone heavy Miami Heat squad. Bam Adebayo, Jokic’s primary matchup vs the Heat, left the game in the first half with a foot injury and didn’t return. That put second year center Kel’el Ware on an island against Jokic, or a variety of smaller players that had no chance to guard Jokic at all.

That left the Joker to work his magic against a compromised defense, and he did not disappoint. 16 assists undersells just how wonderful his passing was tonight. The Nuggets once again shot a lower percentage from three than expected (11-of-40, 27.5%) despite many wide open shots. Jokic probably should’ve had 20 assists, but I’m sure he will settle for 16 in a Nuggets win.

Gordon operated in the dunker spot often, attacking under the rim while Jokic operated at the nail and in the mid-post area. As undersized as the Heat were against Jokic, they were also undersized against Gordon, who bullied Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, and others underneath the rim for easy baskets. Gordon finished with 24 points on 9-of-16 from the field.

Meanwhile, Hardaway continues to excel as a shooter and floor spacer for the Nuggets, scoring 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-9 from three. The volume really helps open things up for cutters, and anytime a cutter (often Christian Braun and Bruce Brown) attracted attention in the middle, Hardaway reaped the reward with a perimeter jumper. He continues to show his value to the Nuggets and why he’s become the Sixth Man.

Murray had 14 points and just three assists tonight despite having the ball in his hands often with the second unit. Murray’s efficiency (4-of-15 from the field) and level of pace left a lot to be desired, and it’s fair to wonder if that calf injury is still having nagging effects on his explosiveness.

Bruce Brown closed the game tonight ahead of Cam Johnson (who wasn’t bad but wasn’t as impactful). Brown was alright, but the defense and hustle plays stood out from him.

Peyton Watson also had a nice defensive performance off the bench with 10 rebounds (a career-high) and two blocks. It was difficult for him to find a rhythm offensively though, which isn’t surprising against the Heat zone.

Overall, this performance from Denver was solid but unspectacular, similar to the way they played against the Sacramento Kings. Jokic was fantastic, and that made all the difference. Denver’s attention to detail defensively was better after the first quarter too, though the Heat made it a bit easier with some missed threes, attempted foul baiting from Powell, and the loss of Adebayo.

5-2. Onto the next, a Friday rematch against the Golden State Warriors at Ball Arena during the NBA Cup.

Exit mobile version