Norman Powell and the Miami Heat leaned on a dominant second half to pummel the Denver Nuggets, who lost three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to an apparent knee injury.
After losing eight of their last nine games, the Miami Heat enter 2026 riding a wave of momentum.
Norman Powell led a balanced attack with 25 points as Miami capitalized on Nikola Jokic’s early exit to overwhelm the Denver Nuggets, 147-123, to notch a third consecutive win on Tuesday, December 30 (PH time).
Jokic went down with an apparent knee injury in the final seconds of the first half, and Miami pounced on the opportunity, unleashing a dominant performance in the second half.
The Heat went 17-for-23 from the field, including 10 three-pointers, for a 47-point third quarter that built a commanding 110-99 lead entering the final frame.
From there, Miami never let up, surpassing the 140-point mark for the seventh time this season and improving their record to 18-15.
Nikola Jovic added 22 points and five threes, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. posted a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists.
Andrew Wiggins and Kel'el Ware contributed 19 points each, and Bam Adebayo chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, are holding their breath for Jokic after he awkwardly hyperextended his knee after colliding with teammate Spencer Jones that ended his night prematurely.
He finished with 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in just 19 minutes.
Jamal Murray added 20 points and 11 assists, but Denver could not recover from the loss of Jokic, falling to 2-10 over their last 12 games.
Miami now looks to extend its streak to four straight wins as the Heat take on the East’s top-ranked Detroit Pistons (24-8), while Denver continues its road trip against the Toronto Raptors (19-14) in Canada.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.