Miami Heat Lose To Denver Nuggets Friday Night

The Miami Heat fall to 3-5 on the season in Friday night's loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Nov 6, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second half at Footprint Center. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat lost Friday night to the Denver Nuggets 135-122. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 12 assists. Duncan Robinson had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists to help lead the Heat.

"Tyler is growing each game this season and making the right play," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The first point of contact for our defense is to make a stand. We have to earn wins in this league and we are going through a rough stretch right now. We have to rally to get much better."

For Miami, they lost their third game in a row. The loss was also the third of their last four.

Nikola Jokic had a triple-double for Denver. He had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists. Jamal Murray led all scorers with 30 points. He coupled the outburst with four rebounds and five assists.

"Jokic is more than a stat line," Spoelstra said. "He makes the hard play look easy and he basically does it all."

Jimmy Butler exited the game with a right ankle sprain in the first quarter. Spoelstra does not know the severity of the injury.

"You never know until you get to the next day," Spoelstra said. "We might not know the extent of it until we get to Minnesota."

Live Updates:

Fourth Quarter:

Denver 135, Miami 122, End of Game

Miami's run is coming to an end with 2:15 left to play. They trail by nine.

Denver 124, Miami 115

Duncan Robinson with his third triple of the quarter cuts the lead to seven. Robinson has 18 points, a season-high.

Denver 120, Miami 113

Tyler Herro with the triple to bring the game back withing 10 with 5:46 to play. Heat on 11-2 run

Denver 118, Miami 108

Nuggets starters combined for 101 points. They also have 14 triples. Rozier with the basket and one.

Denver 116, Miami 103

Third Quarter:

Denver 104, Miami 90, End of Third Quarter

Nuggets reach the century mark. Jokic with the triple-double already. Josh Richardson with a 3-pointer for Miami.

Denver 100, Miami 88

Jovic with five quick points for the Miami Heat.

Denver 95, Miami 80

Nikola Jovic with the two-handed dunk for Miami. Timeout on the floor.

Denver 93, Miami 75

Denver is outscoring Miami 18-5 in the third quarter with 7:58 remaining in the quarter.

Denver 89, Miami 65

Second Quarter:

Denver 71, Miami 60, Halftime Score

Rozier and Herro with back to back triples to cut the lead to four. Christian Braun with a triple of his own.

Denver 65, Miami 58

Heat shooting goes cold. Nuggets lead back to 10.

Denver 60, Miami 50

Heat Timeout after small 4-0 Nuggets run.

Denver 50, Miami 45

Jokic with 14 points on 5 of first 6 shots.

Denver 46, Miami 45

Josh Richardson with a 3-ball. Robinson follows with another 3-pointer. Heat on a 13-0 run.

NOTE: Heat TV announcer Eric Reid said Jimmy Butler is out of the game with a right ankle sprain.

Denver 40, Miami 37

Bam Adebayo with the jump hook and the Nuggets call time out.

Denver 40, Miami 31

First Quarter:

Duncan Robinson hits a 3-pointer as the first quarter ends.

Denver 40, Miami 27

Kel'el Ware picks up his second foul in two minutes and sends Christian Braun to the line for two. Bam Adebayo comes up with an uncontested 3 from the top of the arc. Russell Westbrook answers for Denver.

Denver 38, Miami 24

Kel'el Ware enters the game at 3:24. He immediately fouls Nikola Jokic. Denver has nine assists on its first 12 baskets.

Denver 31, Miami 21

Timeout on the Floor after a Tyler Herro layup cuts the Denver lead.

Denver 27, Miami 21

Jimmy Butler leaves the game and goes to the Heat locker room with 5:15 to play in the quarter. Haywood Highsmith with the 3-point basket. Christian Braun answers with a 3-pointer for Denver.

Denver 27, Miami 19

Nikola Jovic scores for the Heat before Michael Porter, Jr. hits a 3-ball for Denver. Denver's lead gets bigger with 6:13 to play.

Denver 22, Miami 12

Peyton Watson with a 3-pointer as the Nuggets make six of their last seven shots. Nikola Jokic has five assists already.

Denver 17, Miami 6

Miami's only score at the 9:33 was off a back-door cut from Bam Adebayo to Jimmy Butler. Miami starts 1 of 5 shooting.

Denver 8, Miami 2

Pregame:

Starting Lineup for Miami Heat (3-4)

Terry Rozier

Tyler Herro

Bam Adebayo

Jimmy Butler

Nikola Jovic

Scott Salomon is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at sas@southfloridamedianetwork.com.

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