Bam Adebayo goes down, Heat unable to slow down Nikola Jokic and Nuggets

Bam Adebayo Injury and Heat's Struggles in Denver

The Miami Heat returned to a venue where they have historically struggled, aiming for their first regular-season win in Denver since 2016. Kasparas Jakucionis was added to the injury report and could potentially make his NBA debut.

Adebayo's Injury Impact

In the first quarter, Bam Adebayo stepped awkwardly during a handoff and screen to Norman Powell, leaving him limping. He left for the locker room and did not return due to a left foot injury.

Heat Bench and Defensive Challenges

Following Adebayo's exit, many looked to the Heat bench for answers. Coach Erik Spoelstra tried to limit Kel'el Ware's minutes against Nikola Jokic but had little alternative, as Ware was the best option available.

Ware showed promise with fronting and effort to contain Jokic, but Miami's defense suffered from a lack of consistent rebounding. Denver dominated the glass with 14 offensive rebounds in the first half, while Miami managed just one.

Roster Limitations

Once Ware exited, it was clear no other big players were available. Two-way contract player Vlad Goldin was with Sioux Falls, so Keshad Johnson stepped in as the back-up center.

"14 offensive rebounds for Denver compared to 1 for Miami in the first half pretty much tells the story."

Author's summary: Bam Adebayo's injury further exposed Miami Heat's depth issues and defensive rebounding struggles in their ongoing tough outings against the Denver Nuggets.

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Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-06

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