It’ll be a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals on Wednesday – with a twist.
The defending champion Denver Nuggets, led by two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, are expected to travel to the Miami Heat. Denver has won three straight and nine of 10.
Miami is going in the opposite direction with three straight losses, including an embarrassing 110-108 home loss to the lowly Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Moving forward, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wants his team to tighten up its defense.
“You don’t want to give anyone anything,” Spoelstra said, “no airspace.”
Miami will be without its second leading scorer Tyler Herro (20.8 points per game) for the ninth consecutive game due to a foot injury. The Heat needed its dynamic offense, especially its 3-point shooting (39.9%).
The Heat will also be without reserve forward Kevin Love (foot), whose brilliant outlet passes often trigger quick counters. He averages 9.0 points coming off the bench, but will miss his seventh straight game.
Until their return, Miami will rely on top scorer Jimmy Butler (21.7 points) and top rebounder Bam Adebayo (19.9 points, 10.4 rebounds). Butler missed Tuesday’s practice due to illness, but is expected to play Wednesday.
Miami’s role players include All-Rookie candidate Jaime Jaquez Jr., guard Terry Rozier, 3-point shooter Duncan Robinson and high-flyer Caleb Martin.
The Heat have already faced the Nuggets once this season, losing to Denver 103-97 on February 29. Michael Porter Jr. led Denver with 30 points in this game.
“(This game) had a playoff feel,” Porter said. “(The Heat) play hard – really hard.”
Most recently, the Nuggets beat the Toronto Raptors 125-119 on Monday night. Jokic had a triple-double in this game with 35 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists for his 21st triple-double of the season. He also had six interceptions.
“He does a really good job of anticipating and playing angles,” teammate Jamal Murray said of Jokic’s ability to intercept. “It’s about playing the passing line.”
For the season, Jokic is averaging 26.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 1.3 steals. He is shooting 62.8 percent from 2-point range and 34.9 percent from 3-point range.
Unlike the Heat, the Nuggets are healthy and none of their key players are on the injured list.
Jamal Murray is averaging 21.2 points and 6.6 assists. He also leads Denver’s rotation regulars in 3-point percentage (42.0).
Porter, plagued by back injuries earlier in his career, is averaging 16.6 points and 7.0 rebounds. He’s shooting 57.8 percent from 2-point range and 39.6 percent from distance. Porter set a career high last season with 62 games played. This season, he has already played 64.
Denver’s other starters are Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Gordon, who is shooting 62.0 percent from 2-point range, is averaging 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds. Nuggets coach Mike Malone believes Gordon is one of the most underrated players in the league, which is why he played him 35.7 minutes per playoff game. Only Jokic and Murray got more playoff minutes among Nuggets players last season.
Caldwell-Pope, who shoots 39.6 percent from 3-point range, is averaging 10.1 points. He also plays tenacious defense.
