Takeaways From The Miami Heat’s Loss Saturday To Denver Nuggets

The Heat lost despite strong performances by Jimmy Butler and Max Strus

Despite strong performances from small forward Jimmy Butler and shooting guard Max Strus, the Miami Heat lost 112-108 Monday to the Denver Nuggets.  

Here are some major takeaways from the game:

-Butler had one of his best games this season. He had 24 points, 10 rebounds, a season-high nine assists, and one steal. His nine assists were the most since May 5, 2022, when he recorded 12 against the Philadelphia 76ers.

-With Tyler Herro sidelined with a knee injury, Max Strus finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal. It was his 26th start of the season. 

-This was arguably the Heat's worst defensive game of the season. The Nuggets had 58 points in the paint, 14 above what the Heat allowed per game. Much of that had to do with MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, who had 22 of those points. 

-Rookie Jamaree Bouyea didn't disappoint in his third career game. He had 10 points, two rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in the 28 minutes off the bench. He also shot 50 percent from the field, including two 3-pointers. He signed a 10-day contract with the Heat on Feb. 7 but they might want to keep him for the remainder of the season.

The Heat play the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, the final game before the All-Star break. 

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog: https://substack.com/profile/114079068-cory-nelson?utm_source=account-card