NBA

Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat

<span id="gameDate4"></span> <script> date4 = moment("2025-12-30T00:30Z").format('MMM D, YYYY, h:mm A'); document.getElementById("gameDate4").textContent = date4; </script> · National Basketball Association
22-10, 12-5 Away
Final
123 - 147

18-15, 12-5 Home

Jokic gets hurt late in 1st half, Heat pull away from there to top Nuggets

Nikola Jokic goes down with a knee injury

The teams were tied at 63 at halftime, with Jokic getting hurt with about three seconds left before the intermission. Miami then scored 47 third-quarter points to take full control.

Nikola Jovic scored 22 points, Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 20 and Bam Adebayo returned from a two-game absence to grab 10 rebounds for the Heat, who had gone 1-15 in their last 16 games against Denver — the one win coming in five-game defeat to the Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Denver had also won the last 11 regular-season matchups between the clubs and hadn't lost a game in Miami since 2018.

But everything changed after halftime, with Jokic remaining in the locker room areas for evaluation.

Jokic still led the Nuggets in scoring with 21 points, along with eight assists and five rebounds. Jamal Murray scored 20 for Denver and Spencer Jones — who stepped on Jokic's left foot on the play where the three-time MVP was injured — scored 16 for the Nuggets, as did Tim Hardaway Jr.

Jokic was alone under the basket and appeared to step forward to help Denver’s Spencer Jones defend a drive by Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. as time was about to expire in the second quarter. While backtracking, Jones stepped on Jokic’s left foot and it seemed the center’s knee buckled.

Jokic collapsed to the court, grabbing at the knee and writhing in pain.

The Heat topped the 140-point mark for the eighth time in the 2025 calendar year. Miami had seven such games from its inception in 1988 through 2024, combined.

Up next Nuggets: At Toronto on Wednesday night.

Heat: At Detroit on Thursday night.

Regular Season Series

Series tied 1-1

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 123 - 147
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 123 - 147
4th 0.1 Nuggets offensive team rebound 123 - 147
4th 1.2 Curtis Jones misses 26-foot three point jumper 123 - 147
4th 4.1 DaRon Holmes II defensive rebound 123 - 147

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/den.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originDEN https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/mia.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originMIA
47-89 FG 53-99
53 Field Goal % 54
11-31 3PT 22-46
35 Three Point % 48
18-22 FT 19-23
82 Free Throw % 83
36 Rebounds 46
6 Offensive Rebounds 15
30 Defensive Rebounds 31
29 Assists 40
5 Steals 8
4 Blocks 4
10 Turnovers 9
0 Team Turnovers 1
10 Total Turnovers 10
1 Technical Fouls 0
1 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
19 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 12
9 Fast Break Points 18
58 Points in Paint 56
21 Fouls 22
2 Largest Lead 27
6 Lead Changes 6
2 Percent Led 92
Miami Heat Miami Heat Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Bam Adebayo, C Out Apr 14
Dru Smith, G Out Apr 13
Nikola Jovic, F Out Apr 13
Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Peyton Watson, G Out Apr 24
Aaron Gordon, F Day-To-Day Apr 24

Game Information

Kaseya Center

Location: Miami, FL
Attendance: 20,047 · Capacity:

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Oklahoma City 64 18 .780 - L2
Denver 54 28 .659 10 W12
Minnesota 49 33 .598 15 W2
Portland 42 40 .512 22 W2
Utah 22 60 .268 42 L1

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Atlanta 46 36 .561 - L1
Orlando 45 37 .549 1 L1
Charlotte 44 38 .537 2 W1
Miami 43 39 .524 3 W2
Washington 17 65 .207 29 L10
Full Standings

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