Miami Heat Pull Away After Jokic Injury to Defeat Nuggets.

MIAMI — The Miami Heat surged in the second half to defeat the Denver Nuggets 147–123 on Monday night after Denver star Nikola Jokic exited the game late in the first half with a knee injury. The teams entered halftime tied at 63, but Jokic was injured with just seconds remaining before the break and did not return for the second half. Miami took advantage, erupting for 47 points in the third quarter to seize control of the game. Norman Powell led the Heat with 25 points, while Nikola Jovic added 22. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 20 points, and Bam Adebayo returned from a two-game absence to collect 10 rebounds for Miami. The win snapped a long stretch of dominance by Denver, which had beaten Miami in 15 of their previous 16 meetings and had not lost a regular-season game in Miami since 2018.

Despite leaving early, Jokic finished as Denver’s leading scorer with 21 points, along with eight assists and five rebounds. Jamal Murray contributed 20 points, while Spencer Jones and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 16. Jones was involved in the play that led to Jokic’s injury after stepping on Jokic’s left foot as the Nuggets attempted to defend a final-second drive before halftime. Following the incident, Jokic remained in the locker room for evaluation as Miami took full command of the game after intermission.

The performance marked the eighth time in the 2025 calendar year that the Heat scored at least 140 points. Prior to this year, Miami had reached that mark only seven times total between 1988 and 2024. Denver will look to regroup when it travels to Toronto on Wednesday night, while Miami continues its road trip with a game in Detroit on Thursday.