- Life without Bam Adebayo against Nikola Jokic: Heat center Bam Adebayo left the game in the first quarter with a left foot injury after stepping awkwardly on a handoff and screen. Without him, the Heat struggled to contain Nikola Jokic, particularly on the defensive glass. Denver grabbed 14 offensive rebounds in the first half compared to just 1 for Miami, illustrating the lack of a true big man after Adebayo’s exit, forcing Coach Spoelstra to rely on players like Kel’el Ware and Keshad Johnson.
- Offensive weight on three players: With Adebayo out, the scoring burden fell heavily on Norman Powell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Andrew Wiggins. Powell set the tone early with three-pointers, Jaquez Jr. attacked downhill and scored effectively in the lane, and Wiggins provided efficient offense with turn-arounds and off-the-catch launches.
- Nikola Jokic dictates the game: The article suggests the primary reason the Heat struggle in Denver is not just the high altitude, but Jokic’s ability to dictate the pace and terms of the game. He slows down the game, plays quarterback in the half-court, and forces the Heat to play on his turf, making Miami feel like they are constantly on their heels.