Bam Adebayo Injured in Heat's Struggle Against Nuggets
The Miami Heat returned to a venue where they have historically struggled, seeking their first regular season win in Denver since 2016. Ahead of the game, Kasparas Jakucionis was listed as available, potentially making his NBA debut. However, injuries continued to plague the team.
Adebayo's Injury Impact
In the first quarter, Bam Adebayo stepped awkwardly while setting a screen for Norman Powell, injuring his left foot. He exited the game for the locker room and did not return.
Heat's Defensive Challenges
After Adebayo’s exit, Coach Erik Spoelstra turned to Kel'el Ware to defend against Nikola Jokic. Although Ware showed effort by fronting and trying to contain Jokic, Miami's defense was hampered by their failure to consistently secure defensive rebounds. Denver dominated the boards in the first half with 14 offensive rebounds compared to Miami’s single offensive rebound.
Bench Limitations
Once Ware left the court, Miami had no other big men available. Two-way contract player Vlad Goldin was with Sioux Falls, leaving Keshad Johnson as the backup center.
"14 offensive rebounds for Denver compared to 1 for Miami in the first half pretty much tells the story."
Overall, the Heat's injury setbacks and lack of interior defense contributed to their struggles against the Nuggets.
Author's summary: Bam Adebayo's injury and Miami's rebounding struggles highlighted their challenges in an ongoing battle to slow down Denver's Nikola Jokic.