Porter scores 30 points, Nuggets hold off Heat's 4th-quarter rally in 103-97 victory
DENVER (AP) Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points to help pick up the scoring load after Jamal Murray left because of a sprained ankle, and the Denver Nuggets staved off Miami's fourth-quarter rally to beat the Heat 103-97 on Thursday night.
Porter was 12 of 23 from the floor, including four 3-pointers, and had 11 rebounds to help the Nuggets improve to 5-0 since the All-Star break.
“Caught a little rhythm,” Porter said. “But nothing too different. We obviously need Jamal. But some shots were just falling.”
Up 16 in the fourth quarter, Denver saw Miami trim it 99-97 after a floating bank shot by 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.
“Definitely had a playoff vibe to it,” Porter said. “They play hard. They play really hard.”
This marked the first meeting between the Heat and Nuggets since they squared off in the NBA Finals last June. The Nuggets beat the Heat in five games for their first NBA crown.
Murray left just before halftime after he sprained his right ankle when he landed on Aaron Gordon's leg after a drive to the basket. Murray tested it out but shut it down for the night, finishing with six points. He's dealt with right hamstring and ankle ailments this season, along with shin splints.
“It’s great for him to realize being cautious right now is probably the really 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 are not quitting," Jokic said about the Heat. “They know what they’re doing and it’s always hard to play against that 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 that fortitude and grit to keep on fighting back,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There was a little bit of a struggle offensively, and that’s a credit to their defense.”
The Heat won five of six on a trip that included two games before the All-Star break. They 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 we’ll be OK.”
The Nuggets held a pregame ring ceremony for suspended Heat big man Thomas Bryant, who was with Denver last season in its title run. Bryant was presented his championship ring at half-court from Caldwell-Pope in a pregame ceremony and then immediately left the arena.
The NBA made an allowance for Bryant to be on hand for the game because it was the Heat’s only visit to Denver. Suspended players are typically not allowed to be present at the arena on game nights. Bryant wrapped up a three-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation that happened during a Heat game against New Orleans last week.
UP NEXT
Heat: Host Utah on Saturday night.
Nuggets: At Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Bam Adebayo vs. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets gains possession) | |||
11:36 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 0-2 | |
11:16 | Bam Adebayo misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:13 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | Duncan Robinson shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
11:00 | +1 | Aaron Gordon makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-3 | |
11:00 | +1 | Aaron Gordon makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-4 | |
10:46 | Duncan Robinson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:44 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 0-7 | |
10:16 | Terry Rozier misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:13 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:07 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point running layup | 0-9 | |
9:48 | +3 | Nikola Jovic makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Butler assists) | 3-9 | |
9:27 | Jamal Murray misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
9:25 | Nikola Jovic defensive rebound | |||
9:17 | Jamal Murray shooting foul (Terry Rozier draws the foul) | |||
9:17 | +1 | Terry Rozier makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-9 | |
9:17 | +1 | Terry Rozier makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-9 | |
9:02 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 5-12 | |
8:52 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point floating jump shot (Terry Rozier assists) | 7-12 | |
8:36 | Aaron Gordon misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
8:33 | Duncan Robinson defensive rebound | |||
8:18 | Nikola Jovic misses three point jump shot | |||
8:14 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
8:09 | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Duncan Robinson steals) | |||
7:54 | Jimmy Butler misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:53 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
7:49 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Michael Porter Jr. assists) | 7-14 | |
7:29 | +2 | Nikola Jovic makes two point layup (Bam Adebayo assists) | 9-14 | |
7:14 | Jamal Murray misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:11 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
6:58 | Jimmy Butler misses three point jump shot | |||
6:53 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:48 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
6:44 | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | Nikola Jovic misses two point driving layup | |||
6:37 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
6:36 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
6:32 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offensive rebound | |||
6:31 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot | 9-17 | |
6:14 | Terry Rozier misses three point jump shot | |||
6:14 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:01 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 9-19 | |
5:59 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
5:40 | Bam Adebayo misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:37 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
5:32 | Duncan Robinson personal foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | |||
5:24 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
5:19 | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | |||
5:13 | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | |||
5:04 | Terry Rozier turnover (bad pass) (Michael Porter Jr. steals) | |||
4:55 | +2 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes two point pullup jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 9-21 | |
4:42 | Nikola Jokic shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
4:42 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-21 | |
4:42 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-21 | |
4:22 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point finger roll layup | 11-23 | |
4:16 | Nikola Jovic turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:00 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point layup | |||
3:56 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
3:56 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point tip layup | 11-25 | |
3:44 | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving layup (Nikola Jovic assists) | 13-25 | |
3:35 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 13-28 | |
3:28 | Nikola Jovic turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Gordon steals) | |||
3:24 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
3:23 | Terry Rozier defensive rebound | |||
3:21 | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point running layup (Terry Rozier assists) | 15-28 | |
3:21 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shooting foul (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | |||
3:21 | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-28 | |
3:06 | Bam Adebayo kicked ball violation | |||
2:58 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 16-31 | |
2:37 | Caleb Martin turnover (bad pass) (Christian Braun steals) | |||
2:14 | Nikola Jokic misses two point hook shot | |||
2:12 | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | |||
2:03 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
2:00 | Orlando Robinson offensive rebound | |||
1:51 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point turnaround jump shot | 18-31 | |
1:26 | Reggie Jackson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:25 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Nikola Jokic personal foul (Loose ball) (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | |||
1:11 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point driving dunk | 20-31 | |
0:56 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving layup | 20-33 | |
0:34 | Delon Wright misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:31 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
0:13 | Christian Braun misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:10 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point turnaround bank jump shot | 20-36 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:50 | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
11:50 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-36 | |
11:50 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-36 | |
11:38 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 22-38 | |
11:20 | Christian Braun personal foul (Duncan Robinson draws the foul) | |||
11:10 | Jimmy Butler misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:09 | Heat offensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Christian Braun personal foul (Loose ball) (Orlando Robinson draws the foul) | |||
10:59 | +2 | Duncan Robinson makes two point driving finger roll layup | 24-38 | |
10:46 | Peyton Watson misses two point driving layup | |||
10:44 | Christian Braun offensive rebound | |||
10:36 | Zeke Nnaji turnover (lost ball) (Jaime Jaquez Jr. steals) | |||
10:32 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point running dunk (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 26-38 | |
10:32 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
10:14 | Zeke Nnaji misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
10:11 | Orlando Robinson defensive rebound | |||
10:02 | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Orlando Robinson assists) | 29-38 | |
9:40 | Jamal Murray misses two point driving layup | |||
9:40 | Zeke Nnaji offensive rebound | |||
9:39 | Caleb Martin shooting foul (Zeke Nnaji draws the foul) | |||
9:39 | +1 | Zeke Nnaji makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-39 | |
9:39 | Zeke Nnaji misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:39 | Duncan Robinson defensive rebound | |||
9:17 | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | |||
9:12 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
8:57 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point floating jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 29-41 | |
8:43 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point turnaround bank jump shot | |||
8:40 | Caleb Martin offensive rebound | |||
8:38 | Zeke Nnaji blocks Caleb Martin's two point putback layup | |||
8:38 | Nuggets defensive rebound | |||
8:28 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:26 | Duncan Robinson defensive rebound | |||
8:24 | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
8:24 | Jimmy Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:24 | Heat offensive rebound | |||
8:24 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-41 | |
8:08 | Peyton Watson misses three point jump shot | |||
8:08 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:00 | Orlando Robinson turnover (lost ball) (Peyton Watson steals) | |||
7:51 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Christian Braun assists) | 30-43 | |
7:50 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
7:35 | Christian Braun personal foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
7:35 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-43 | |
7:35 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-43 | |
7:20 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (Jaime Jaquez Jr. steals) | |||
7:14 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 34-43 | |
6:53 | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
6:50 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
6:42 | Jimmy Butler misses two point layup | |||
6:41 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. offensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Bam Adebayo misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:34 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
6:17 | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving hook shot | |||
6:13 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Aaron Gordon misses two point tip layup | |||
6:13 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
6:08 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Michael Porter Jr. steals) | |||
5:53 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
5:50 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
5:36 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
5:33 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. shooting foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
5:20 |