DENVER — — Michael Porter Jr. scored 30 points to help pick up the charge after Jamal Murray left with a sprained ankle, and the Denver Nuggets staved off Miami’s fourth-quarter rally to beat the Heat 103-97. Thursday evening.
Porter was 12 of 23 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and pulled down 11 rebounds to help the Nuggets improve to 5-0 since the All-Star break.
“I got a little rhythm going,” Porter said. “But nothing much different. We obviously need Jamal. But some shots just fell.
Up 16 in the fourth quarter, Denver saw Miami cut it 99-97 after a floater from Jimmy Butler with 11 seconds remaining. Nikola Jokic made two free throws to seal it in a game where the Nuggets never trailed.
Jokic finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, ending a streak of four triple-doubles. The two-time NBA MVP scored eight of Denver’s 11 points late in the fourth quarter.
“There was definitely a playoff vibe,” Porter said. “They play hard. They play really hard.
This was the first meeting between the Heat and Nuggets since their NBA Finals clash last June. The Nuggets defeated the Heat in five games for their first NBA crown.
Murray left just before halftime after spraining his right ankle when he landed on Aaron Gordon’s leg following a drive to the basket. Murray tested him but called it quits for the night, finishing with six points. He has suffered soreness in his right hamstring and ankle this season, as well as shin splints.
“It’s great for him to realize that being cautious right now is probably the prudent decision,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
With Murray out, Denver pieced together the point guard duties with Reggie Jackson, Christian Braun and Jokic to hold off the Heat. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 18 points and Gordon 16 as the Nuggets played at home for a second straight night.
“They’re really aggressive and they don’t give up,” Jokic said of the Heat. “They know what they’re doing and it’s always difficult to play against this team.”
Bam Adebayo had 22 points and Butler added 21 points for a Heat team that had won five in a row. Miami was without Kevin Love, Tyler Herro and Josh Richardson due to injuries.
“Our guys have the courage and grit to keep fighting back,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There was a bit of difficulty offensively, and that’s a credit to their defense.”
The Heat won five of six games on a trip that included two games before the All-Star break. They will face the Nuggets again on March 13 at home.
“We know who we are,” Butler said. “It’s close to the most important time of the year, so you’ll be fine.”
The Nuggets held a pre-match ceremony for the Heat’s suspended big man Thomas Bryant, who was with Denver last season in its title run. Bryant received his half-court championship ring from Caldwell-Pope in a pregame ceremony, then immediately left the arena.
The NBA allowed Bryant to be present for the game because it was the Heat’s only visit to Denver. Suspended players are generally not permitted to be present at the arena on game nights. Bryant received a three-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation during a Heat game against New Orleans last week.
FOLLOWING
Heat: Host Utah on Saturday night.
Nuggets: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
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