After being sidelined for three games due to concussion protocol, Jamal Murray made an impressive return, scoring 28 points and earning a notable milestone as the first player in Nuggets franchise history to hit 1,000 career three-pointers. The Nuggets started strong, establishing a quick 17-6 lead in the opening minutes and concluding the first quarter with a remarkable 40 points on 14 of 20 shooting.
Despite the Heat’s efforts to close the gap in the final minutes, they never managed to take the lead, trailing by as much as 26 points during the second half. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 points and contributed 11 assists, but it was not enough to overcome the Nuggets’ dominance.
The loss marked Miami’s fourth in their last five games and was compounded by the injury of star player Jimmy Butler, who twisted his ankle during a drive against Murray just seven minutes into the game and was unable to return.
For the Nuggets, while there are still concerns regarding the disparity in performance between the starting lineup and the bench, the team has shown impressive resilience, winning six out of their last seven games after beginning the season with two losses.
A pivotal moment in the game came when the Nuggets maintained an 11-point lead at halftime, then quickly surged ahead with a 15-4 run in the first three minutes of the third quarter, extending their advantage to 86-64.
In addition, Russell Westbrook showcased his prowess by delivering a season-high 10 assists, marking just the second instance in his last 44 games where he achieved double-digit assists. The Nuggets will be looking to build on this momentum as they prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, while the Heat will continue their six-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves on the same day.