Michael Porter Jr. scored game-high 25 points, leading the Denver Nuggets (46-20) to a commanding 100-88 win over the Miami Heat (35-30) on Wednesday night, propelling the Nuggets to the summit of the Western Conference standings.
Aaron Gordon contributed 16 points, while Nikola Jokic added 12 points and 14 rebounds in a rematch of the last year’s NBA Finals.
The reigning NBA champions now stand alone atop the highly competitive Western Conference, having built momentum with a 10-1 record since the All-Star break.
Despite a strong effort from Miami’s Bam Adebayo, who recorded 17 points and 13 rebounds, and contributions from Jimmy Butler (15 points) and Terry Rozier (14 points), the Heat fell short, extending their losing streak to four games.
The Nuggets’ strong start, fueled by a 15-0 run in the first quarter, set the tone for the game, allowing them to maintain control and dictate the pace throughout the contest.
