Key Takeaways:
- Miami defeated Denver 147-123 following Nikola Jokic’s knee injury late in the first half
- The Heat scored 47 points in the third quarter to establish an unassailable lead
- Nikola Jokic still led the Nuggets with 21 points before leaving the match for evaluation
Match Overview
The Miami Heat surged past the Denver Nuggets 147-123 in Miami, capitalising on the absence of Nikola Jokic after the Denver star suffered a knee injury just before halftime. The teams were deadlocked at 63 heading into the break, but Miami seized momentum immediately after the interval, putting up an impressive 47-point display in the third quarter to take control of the contest.
highest scoring game this season AND a HEAT win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sUKhpYCMaD
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 30, 2025
Key Moments and Injury Incident
Nikola Jokic went down with approximately three seconds remaining in the first half. The three-time MVP looked in distress under the basket after Spencer Jones inadvertently stepped on Jokic’s left foot as the pair tried to defend a drive by Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. Jokic’s knee appeared to buckle on the play, sending him to the court clutching his knee in pain. He did not return after halftime and remained in the locker room for further evaluation.
Player Performances
Despite his premature exit, Jokic still finished as Denver’s top scorer, collecting 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Jamal Murray contributed 20 points, while both Spencer Jones and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 16 apiece for the Nuggets.
Miami’s Norman Powell led all scorers with 25 points. Nikola Jovic added 22, Jaime Jaquez Jr. tallied 20, and Bam Adebayo returned from a two-game absence to lead the Heat with 10 rebounds.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | Miami Heat | 25 | 1 | 4 |
| Nikola Jovic | Miami Heat | 22 | 4 | 5 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat | 20 | 3 | 11 |
| Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat | 13 | 10 | 4 |
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | 21 | 5 | 8 |
| Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | 20 | 6 | 11 |
| Spencer Jones | Denver Nuggets | 16 | 3 | 1 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Denver Nuggets | 16 | 3 | 2 |
Historical Context and Upcoming Fixtures
This victory was significant for the Heat, who had only won one of their previous 16 meetings with Denver – that win taking place during their five-game loss in the 2023 NBA Finals. The Nuggets had dominated regular-season encounters with 11 consecutive wins and had not lost in Miami since 2018. The tide turned after Jokic’s injury, with the Heat notching 140 or more points for the eighth time in the 2025 calendar year, surpassing their total from 1988 through 2024 combined.
Looking ahead, Denver will travel to Toronto on Wednesday night, while Miami are set to face Detroit on Thursday night.
