The Nuggets got schooled by their division foes in Minnesota and were always behind. They let the Timberwolves invade their paint for 72 points, the second-most digits given up to an opponent in that spot all year.

 

They showed little resistance on defense and were on their back foot early. It took Nikola Jokić scoring five times at close range plus nailing a pick-and-pop shot, and Jamal Murray making two jumpers and laying in a lob to prevent the team from getting shamed. 

 

The defense was still helpless in the second quarter because of poor closeouts and turnovers not letting them get into position. Yet, Russell Westbrook and Murray combined for six of nine baskets on the dribble and catch to keep the team within striking distance.

 

At halftime, the Nuggets were down 71-60. They had 36 paint points, four on the break, 14 via second chances and 12 off turnovers. 

 

The Timberwolves had 46 paint points, 20 on the break, 12 via second chances and 19 off turnovers.

 

Then the Nuggets came out of the break, making three of five baskets, but were down 15 points over two minutes in. Their offense shot 59.1% for the period, but the Wolves kept feasting when they wanted to, and four of them made multiple field goals.  Anthony Edwards defaced the defense the most, dribbling into its heart for three baskets and nailing two triples.

 

The fourth quarter started with the Nuggets down 109-91. The Timberwolves’ attack finally slowed, but making nine of 24 shots was more than enough as they were so far ahead, and the Nuggets offense was in the dirt. Jokić and Murray only played two more minutes before checking out in the last five with the team down 25. 

 

The Nuggets lost 133-104. They were outscored in three key areas: paint points 72-58, fastbreak points 16-8 and second-chance points 20-18. On top of that, Minnesota was superior from deep, making 46.7% of attempts to Denver’s 34.4%.

 

Takeaways:

 

• The defense was slow to react to cutters plus shooters, and failed to play help effectively, Jokić especially. The Timberwolves logged a 63.2 effective field goal percentage, the third-highest opponent accuracy all season. 

 

• Michael Porter Jr. also had one of his worst nights of the year. He’s 6’10 but played like he’s 6’1 on the glass because he got no rebounds. And he was a liability on defense.

 

• This was the seventh game of the year the Nuggets had at least 20 turnovers. Their record in those games is 5-2.

 

• The Nuggets got beat up on the glass by nine boards and gave up 18 offensive rebounds.

 

• Murray had burst on the dribble and his jumper was on target. He finished with 25 points on 62.5% shooting, plus two rebounds, five assists and two turnovers. This is a different player from the slower and heavier-looking Murray, who was struggling earlier in the season. He was the Nuggets’ biggest bright spot in a blowout loss. 

 

• Jokić’s five-game triple-double streak concluded as he was seven rebounds away from another. He also tied his season worst of seven turnovers.

The Nuggets played well for three quarters, then let the Kings, who were playing on a second-straight night, back in the game late because of poor defense before closing the deal. Nikola Jokić recorded his 20th triple-double of the year and 14th before the fourth quarter. 

 

“Not every win is going to be where you don’t have to put Nikola [Jokić] back in the fourth quarter,” coach Michael Malone said after the game. “We had to tonight. They jumped out 11-0 in the fourth. They made it a game, and our guys responded well enough to get the win.”

 

The Nuggets raced out to a 40-31 lead after one quarter. Jokić had seven offerings to six teammates and scored seven points via hook, 3-pointer plus a layup on a horns set going right. On the other side, DeMar DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis combined for nine of 16 baskets.

 

While Jokić took his early second-quarter rest, Jamal Murray got to his spots on the dribble, scoring thrice from long and close range. Michael Porter added four second-chance points, and Peyton Watson protected the paint.

 

Jokić, Russell Westbrook and Christian Braun returned after five minutes and change with the Nuggets ahead by 15. They continued on a 21-14 run supplied by five Nuggets to end the half. 

 

At intermission, the Nuggets led 74-52. They led in three key areas: points in the paint 44-24, fastbreak points 9-7 and second-chance points 15-10. Additionally, Murray (16), Westbrook (14), Porter (13) and Jokić (11) were the team’s double-digit scorers.

 

Then the Kings cut the lead to 12 on a paint attack and three treys. But the hosts responded with 12 of 21 shots from eight Nuggets, including four 3-pointers in the last minute of the period. The last one was a 66-foot bomb from Jokić.

 

The fourth quarter started with the Nuggets up 110-85, and Murray was the only starter on the floor. The Kings took advantage of the hosts taking their foot off the gas and rattled off 11 unanswered digits before Malone called a stoppage. Jokic scored two hooks in crunch time, but the Kings kept chipping away and eventually were down five with a minute left.

 

Next, Jokić’s freebies and Braun’s pick-6 put the game out of reach. 

 

The Nuggets won 132-123. They had 68 paint points, 18 on the break and 19 via second chances. 

 

Jokić had 35 points on 12 of 19 attempts, with 22 rebounds, 17 assists, one steal, two blocks and one turnover.

 

Braun scored 21 points on 57.1% shooting, with two rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block.  

 

Westbrook put up 18 points on 70% shooting, with five rebounds, three assists, one steal and three turnovers.

 

And Murray had 18 points on eight of 18 shots, with six rebounds, five assists, three steals and two turnovers.

 

The Kings had 52 paint points, 16 on the break and 22 via second chances. Fox, Sabonis, DeRozan, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, Trey Lyles and Doug McDermott were their double-digit scorers. 

 

After the game, Westbrook said, “I think we are in a good space as a team. We are playing proper basketball and doing the right things.”

 

Takeaways:

 

• Aaron Gordon only played six minutes in the first half and 11 in the second. Malone was asked after the game about Gordon’s frustration. He said, “I was told that he had to use the men’s room… Dan Shimensky, our trainer, said, ‘AG went back to the locker room.’”

 

• Watson had four blocks. This is his 14th game of the year with multiple denials. 

 

• This was Jokić’s fifth straight triple-double. Additionally, he had a season-high 17 assists, but his four-game streak of sitting in the fourth quarter ended.

 

 

• Murray had 16 of his 18 points in the first half. Despite not much production in the second, he was looking more like his old self against the Kings.

 

 

• The Nuggets had their second-worst defensive fourth quarter of the season (152 defensive rating).

 

• The Nuggets have won 12 of their last 15 games.

 

Joe Cronin’s Trail Blazers embarrassed the Heat at Kaseya Center. A late spurt in the fourth quarter made sure the box score wasn’t as ugly as it could’ve been, but for most stretches, the hosts looked like the team that came in 14 games below .500.  And Deandre Ayton was twice the center Bam Adebayo was.

 

“Without Tyler [Herro], our overall intentionality was not at its highest level,” coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game. 

 

Yet everything was rolling in the first quarter for the Heat. They made seven of nine treys, Adebayo’s jumper and hooks were falling, and Kel’el Ware’s length and athleticism contained the paint. 

 

The second quarter started with the Heat ahead 38-34. Then Portland raised its pressure, and the Heat’s offense soiled itself, staining Pat Riley court by scoring 25 points on 27% shooting through the next 19 minutes. Ayton feasted on the offensive glass and scored 12 points at close and mid-range in that span. And at one point, Scoot Henderson’s corner triple put the visitors up by 27 with three-and-a-half minutes left in the third. 

 

The fourth quarter started with the Heat down 97-77. Adebayo, Butler and Rozier were benched, and as the period went on, the Heat cut the deficit to seven in the fourth quarter on a 17-2. Portland took its foot off the gas for about eight minutes, but Simons responded with a layup on the right side, and Jerami Grant made freebies to put the game out of reach. 

 

The Heat lost 116-107. They had 46 paint points, five on the break, 13 via second chances, seven off turnovers and 31 from the bench. 

 

The Trail Blazers had 46 paint points, 21 on the break, 15 via second chances, eight off turnovers and 25 from the bench. 

 

The Heat won’t practice Wednesday, which is a shame because the offense looked rotorless for most of the game. Keep in mind, Riley used to consistently make players practice after getting off the plane if he felt they were not performing up to standard. 

 

Observations:

 

• Duncan Robinson and Ware were the only starters to play in the fourth quarter, logging every minute. Nikola Jović, Jaime Jaques Jr. and Pelle Larsson also played all of the fourth.

 

• The Heat were shut down in the paint non restricted area, making only 30% of attempts. The league average in that spot is 43.7%.

 

• In Ware’s first start, he put up 20 points on eight of 17 attempts, with 15 rebounds and two blocks. He said, “I waited my whole life to be able to start an NBA game.”

 

• The Heat’s offense spent 85% of the time in the half-court. They scored 83.3 points per 100 plays, good enough for the 11th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass.

• Adebayo had 12 points in the first half on 62.5% shooting but disappeared after, going scoreless the last seven minutes he played.

The Denver Nuggets continue to stand as an insurmountable challenge for the Miami Heat, exposing glaring weaknesses that cannot be ignored (The Nuggets have won 10 regular season matchups in a row vs Miami and also beat Miami 4-1 in the 2023 NBA Finals). From their superior size and depth to their relentless efficiency, Denver underscores just how far Miami is from being a legitimate title contender. Yet, the Nuggets are only part of the story. The Heat’s problems run deeper—problems that have come to a head with Jimmy Butler’s return from suspension. What was supposed to be a triumphant reunion has turned into a bizarre and concerning chapter for the franchise. Butler’s behavior—aloof, detached, and seemingly out of sync with his teammates—has raised serious questions about his role in Miami’s future.

The time has come for the Heat to make a hard decision. As much as Butler has done for the franchise, his presence now feels more like a hindrance than a help. A reboot, painful as it may be, might be the best path forward.

Denver’s Dominance Highlights Miami’s Flaws

The Nuggets are champions for a reason. Their combination of Nikola Jokić’s unparalleled playmaking, Jamal Murray’s clutch shot-making, and a deep supporting cast makes them a matchup nightmare. Against Miami, Denver’s size and versatility consistently exploit weaknesses in the Heat’s roster. Whether it’s outmuscling Miami in the paint or spreading the floor with elite shooters, the Nuggets reveal the Heat’s deficiencies in every meeting (Friday’s 133-113 loss was just another reminder).

Miami’s inability to counter Denver’s strengths serves as a stark reminder of how far the Heat are from competing at the highest level. While teams like the Nuggets and Boston Celtics are evolving and improving, Miami’s core feels stagnant, held together by the grit and determination that defined past success but increasingly outpaced by superior talent and strategy.

Butler’s Return—A Symbol of Dysfunction

Jimmy Butler has been the face of the Miami Heat since his arrival in 2019. His leadership and fiery competitiveness were instrumental in guiding the team to deep playoff runs. But the Butler we see today is not the same player who once embodied Miami’s famed “Heat Culture.” His return from suspension was nothing short of strange. Reports of Butler’s detached demeanor and tension with teammates suggest a player who is either disinterested or deliberately distancing himself from the team. In his return from his seven game suspension signs were clear, from pregame to post game it was all about Jimmy. The “I’m Back” to the pregame introductions (he seemed blah), and the postgame interviews in which he claims, “the truth will come out” and he has ” no beef with the guys on the court”. While both of these statements can be true, Jimmy is putting this franchise’s development on hold and the sooner the Heat can move on the better. Jimmy performed well in his minutes, but what is that really saying if the team has no chemistry, in a sport where that matters so so much.

This isn’t the first time Butler’s behavior has raised eyebrows. His history of clashes with teammates and coaches has been well-documented, from his dramatic exit in Minnesota to his turbulent tenure in Philadelphia. While his fiery personality has often been framed as a strength, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it can also be a liability. For a team that prides itself on unity and resilience, Butler’s recent actions feel out of place and counterproductive.

The Case for Moving On

As difficult as it may be to imagine the Heat without Butler, the franchise must consider whether he’s the right leader for the next phase. Butler is 35 years old and showing signs of wear and tear. His contract which started the downfall has a player option this Summer and if Jimmy opts in the Heat owe him another $52 million dollars.

The Heat’s best move might be to trade Butler while he still holds value. Younger teams with championship aspirations could be interested in acquiring a veteran leader with playoff pedigree. In return, Miami could secure draft assets, young players, or cap flexibility to build around Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, two players who represent the future of the franchise. But the Heat also can’t jump the gun to move Butler just to escape his antics. Coach Spoelstra and Riley have a lot to discuss as the deadline looms large for the future of the Miami Heat.

A New Identity

If Miami moves on from Butler, the team will have an opportunity to redefine itself. The Heat’s identity has long been rooted in toughness and perseverance, but in today’s NBA, talent and adaptability are just as important. By focusing on developing their younger players and acquiring versatile pieces, Miami can position itself to compete in an increasingly dynamic league.

Bam Adebayo has already shown he can be a cornerstone player, anchoring the defense and contributing as a scorer and playmaker (very rough offensive season from Bam). Tyler Herro has blossomed into one of the league’s most promising guards. Surrounding these two with complementary talent should be Miami’s priority, even if it means enduring short-term struggles.

The Window Is Closing

The Heat are at a crossroads. Clinging to the status quo may feel comfortable, but it’s a recipe for mediocrity. Teams like Cleveland and Boston aren’t going anywhere, and ultimately the west is full of star-studded teams. If Miami wants to remain relevant, tough decisions need to be made. Moving on from Jimmy Butler is one of them.

It’s a bittersweet reality. Butler’s tenure in Miami has been marked by incredible highs, from the unforgettable 2020 Finals run to his legendary playoff performances. But his recent behavior and the team’s struggles suggest that the partnership has run its course. The Heat can’t afford to let sentimentality dictate their future.

The sooner Miami embraces change, the better. The Nuggets’ dominance and Butler’s strange return are wake-up calls that the current formula isn’t working. It’s time for the Heat to restart, to shed the weight of the past, and to build something new. Only then can Miami hope to recapture the glory that once defined this storied franchise.